1. 22 THE JOURNAL, October 2, 2014 Newsdesk: Salisbury 01722 426511 • Advertising 426500 email: newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk
SJcharitynews
Help Sara take on
maiden marathonA “CRAZY middle-aged woman” is
appealing to readers to help her
realise her dream of running her
first marathon before she is 56.
This Sunday, churchwarden Sara
Bossom will be pounding the streets
to raise cash for St Peter's Church
in Pitton.
Sara, who has survived cancer,
has raised more than £16,000 for
Breakthrough Breast Cancer in the
last nine years but now says it is
time for a change.
She will be running the
Clarendon Marathon from
Salisbury to Winchester through
Pitton in her first ever marathon.
She said: “It is described as tough
– the training programme is very
demanding and I have stuck to it for
the last five weeks of preparation
and at the moment I am longing for
this time next week when it will all
be over.
“I enjoy running and was prepar-
ing for the Worcester Half in
February when a pain in my knee
started to cause problems and
stopped me from going above five
miles.
“That weekend I received a
prayer for healing from a young
woman who believed that God had
prompted her to pray for someone
with a painful knee.
“Something shifted, the pain went
and I ran 6.4 miles that afternoon
without any problem.”
She added: “While running
through the beautiful Clarendon
Estate, I resolved to do something
really big in return to thank God for
his healing, something courageous.
It was time to go for the big one.”
St Peter's is older than Salisbury
Cathedral and has had an impor-
tant role in the village for centuries.
Historical church registers
record weddings, baptisms and
funerals there since the 1600s.
Sara added: “My family, my
physio and orthopaedic surgeon
and friend Edward Crawfurd all say
that I am mad and stupid and they
have given dire warnings about hips
and knees and backs but a big ges-
ture needs an element of risk if it is
to be really big so please support me
and I promise I will never do anoth-
er one!”
To support Sara go to
justgiving.com/Sara-Bossom.
By Miranda Robertson
miranda.robertson@salisburyjournal.co.uk
Sara Bossom, in the pink top, has appealed for help as she plans to run her first marathon
ALABARÈ’S care and support
manager for learning disabilities and
mental health Mel Greenstock was
victorious in the Three Peaks
Challenge earlier this month.
Mel managed to climb Mount
Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben
Nevis in just 26.5 hours.
She undertook the challenge to
raise money and awareness for
Alabaré’s learning disability
services.
Alabaré offers long-term
supported accommodation, as well
as a range of support and training
opportunities to people in their own
homes. They also have two training
facilities – one in Old Sarum,
Salisbury, and one nearby in Barford
St Martin.
Mel said: “It was the most
physically and mentally challenging
thing I have ever done, and pushed
me beyond my limits in many ways,
but also the most amazing.
“Being on the roof of Great Britain
at the top of Ben Nevis was just
brilliant.”
Mel Greenstock at the top of Ben Nevis
WILTSHIRE Police charity
Splash is preparing for an
action-packed October half
term for children facing
challenges.
Applications are now open
for three Wild Wiltshire
projects in Salisbury,
Trowbridge and Chippenham
as well as an overnight
‘Paddle, Pedal, Pursuit’
residential in Brokerswood.
The free Salisbury event is
on October 29 at the Devenish
Reserve and young people
will be collected from the city.
The wildlife projects are
delivered in partnership with
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and
include campfire making, den
building, bug hunting, and
more. Splash activities are for
young people aged between
nine and 16 who are facing
challenges in life, and those
who want to attend must be
nominated by completing a
booking form at splash-
wiltshire.org.uk or call 01380
734106.
The deadline is Friday,
October 10.
Police charity lines
up half term action
Take part in raffle
MENTAL health charity
Rethink is holding a stall at
the Poultry Cross in Salisbury
on October 10.
The event takes place on
World Mental Health Day
between 9am and 5pm and
people will be asked to fill out
a survey in exchange for entry
into a raffle.
A number of local
businesses have offered
prizes, including Candyland,
Nando’s, Cosy Club, Cote
Brasserie, Bill’s, The Body
Shop and Occasions. It is also
Schizophrenia Awareness
Week and there will be a
schizophrenia simulation as
well.
Peaks Challenge victory