PE TEACHER Sarah Hayes, from Wiveliscombe, is training to take on the most coveted event in any runner’s calendar, the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, April 26.

Sarah will be running 26.2 gruelling miles to raise much-needed funds for Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Running the London Marathon has been Sarah’s dream for almost ten years, with eight unsuccessful ballot applications behind her. She said: “I was so excited to be offered a place to not only run this iconic race but to also be doing this for such a great local charity.

“As a mum to two young children, we love to enjoy many of the areas which Somerset Wildlife Trust manages and conserves, and I’m happy to be a part of helping this continue. I have always said if I was going to run for charity it had to be a local one that I would make a difference to, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Somerset’s Wildlife Trust’s community fundraising manager Kate Wilson said: “We’re so excited to offer Sarah our charity place in the Virgin Money London Marathon 2020. Her enthusiasm and commitment to her rigorous training programme is contagious, and I’ve even been inspired to start running myself.

“With Sarah’s determination, we feel certain she will not only smash her training goals, but will also raise significant funds to help us continue to protect wildlife at what is a critical time for nature in Somerset.”

To support Sarah visit https://uk.virgin

moneygiving.com/SarahHayes19 or join her at upcoming her fundraising event – a charity bring-and-buy and coffee morning on Saturday, April 4, at the Community Hall, Wiveliscombe.