THERE was almost a touch of the Loneliness of the Long Distance runner about Sarah Dixon on Sunday. While those taking part in the Royston Fun Run were competing over 3km, she was running a distance of 12km around Therfield Heath to raise cash for Royston

THERE was almost a touch of the Loneliness of the Long Distance runner about Sarah Dixon on Sunday.

While those taking part in the Royston Fun Run were competing over 3km, she was running a distance of 12km around Therfield Heath to raise cash for Royston & South Cambridgeshire Home-Start.

Sarah, who works for the charity as senior co-ordinator, said: "I've never done anything like this before.

"If you said a year ago I would be running just across the village green in Fowlmere then I would have laughed, let alone running around the heath," she said.

"Personally, it's an incredible achievement to run that distance."

She decided to run after losing more than three stone in weight - the result of walking with her new four-year-old Collie dog, Poppy.

"It was just a question of a way of raising the profile of Home-Start," she said. "I have to do a lot of applications to raise money, but I think the community also needs to see you actively trying to get the money."

She took 1hr 20 to complete the run, along with Home-Start volunteer Karen Wilde, who, like Sarah, had not attempted to run such a distance before.

And her efforts helped raise about £850 for the charity.

"It made it all absolutely worthwhile," she said.

But Sarah may not yet be thinking about next year's London Marathon. "That sounds a bit daunting," she said.

Home-Start will be holding an open day at its new headquarters in Meldreth on Saturday, May 17 (11am-2pm).

More Fun Run pictures on our gallery