Harleston mum closer to charity target

05 November 2009

A HARLESTON mother who was told she may never walk again has finished her second charity run, edging closer to her fundraising target of £100,000.

Two year's ago Sarah Hope, sister-in-law of South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, was recovering from the car crash that killed her mother, Elizabeth Panton, and seriously injured her daughter Pollyanna.

She was told she may never walk again after losing her left calf muscle. Her daughter tragically lost her right leg.

But after an impressive recovery she embarked on a fundraising mission to raise cash for the Limbless Association, the charity which helped her daughter with support and prosthetic legs.

Pollyanna, now four years old, needs constant help with her prosthetic as she is still growing quickly.

In her latest fundraiser, Mrs Hope completed the 10-mile Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday, October 24 with a time of one hour and 44 minutes.

Mrs Hope also ran the Run to the Beat half marathon at the O2 Arena in London earlier this year.

“I think it was a bit harder than the last one. I think we were running against the wind,” she said.

“I was quite tired at the beginning; I thought I wasn't going to make it. We've raised about £90,000, which is amazing, but I'm hoping to get to £100,000,” she said.

“I'm feeling quite confident.”

After two events, Mrs Hope has said that she will switch her efforts to more sedate projects and said that a large charity ball may be next on the agenda.

It is hoped that the money will eventually be used by the Limbless Association to fund charity work in Vietnam.

To donate to Mrs Hope's cause visit www.justgiving.com/sarahhope