Sara Bossom, aged 55 3/4, is running her first full marathon!
Will you sponsor me please?

On Sunday October 5th, I am running the Clarendon Marathon from Salisbury to Winchester through Pitton. It is the full 26.2 miles and is described as "tough!"

'Why?' you might ask. Well, it is bit of a story: I enjoy running and was preparing 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. 

I went on to complete the Worcester Half in May with my brother Tim. It was my fifth Half Marathon. Over the next few weeks, 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! What better than a full marathon to raise money for St Peter's Church in Pitton where I am the Church warden and where so much good happens?

St Peter's is older than Salisbury Cathedral and has had an important role in the village for centuries. Historical church registers record weddings, Baptisms and Funerals there since the 1600s. Today it has a loyal and dedicated congregation who continue the Christian traditions of service and pastoral care and who are supported by a large number of villagers who give their time freely to keep the building and churchyard in tip top condition. However we struggle to pay our bills despite generous Covenanted giving so we rely on one-off donations and will need to be more creative in the future if we are to pay our way. 

I would like to raise £1000 and hope that you might consider giving a donation to St Peter's in recognition of a crazy middle-aged woman's dream of running her first marathon before she is 56! In the process, you will be helping me to give thanks for good health, good works and all the blessings given freely by a loving God.

My family, my physio and orthopaedic Edward all say that I am mad and stupid and they give dire warnings about hips and knees and backs but a big gesture needs an element of risk if it is to be really big so please support me and I promise I WILL NEVER DO ANOTHER ONE!!!

Thank you for your generosity,

From Sara, the potential marathon runner!