Sarah's fundraiser for Warkworth show
YOUNG running star Sarah Wilkes has come up with a blooming good idea to boost the coffers of the popular annual flower show held in her Northumberland village.
Eleven-year-old Sarah - whose running talent has seen her win a series of leading races and become a member of the Morpeth Harriers club - had the idea of a fun run to support Warkworth Show, which will be staged for the 137th time in August.
Sarah (pictured outside Warkworth castle), who lives in Warkworth and is a pupil at Alnwick's Dukes Middle School, believes the 2.5km run will add to the show's appeal, as well as raising vital income to help its running costs
The inaugural run will be limited to 80 entrants and start and finish at Warkworth Castle, taking in the riverside pathway, on the afternoon of show day on Saturday August 16.
The entry fee will be £6 for adults and £4.50 for under-16s, and all participants will receive a free T shirt and admission to the show. Trophies will be awarded to winners in male and female senior and junior sections.
The run is being sponsored by local firm DP Builders and Forsyths of Wooler -- and will be started by Jim Alder, who won the 1966 Commonwealth Games marathon gold medal in Jamaica.
Sarah, who lives with her GP dad Scott, mum Jane and brothers James, nine, and George, five, said: "I took part in the Felton Fair run and thought that a similar event at Warkworth would be a fun thing to do, as well as raising money for the show. I'd love to compete in the Olympics one day, possibly at five or ten kilometres."
She has already notched up victories in the Tesco Junior Great Winter Run in Edinburgh, the Tesco Great Junior Coastal Run at Sunderland in 2006 and 2007 and the Scottish Borders winter cross-country event. She also competed in the national cross- country championships at Alton Towers.
Dr Wilkes, who practises at Amble Health Centre and is organising the fun run with his wife, said: "We believe it will add another facet to the event and, if it is a success, we plan to make it a regular feature of the show."
This year's Warkworth Show, held in the shadow of the castle, will include children's entertainment and displays of flowers, fruits, vegetables, preserves, baking and art and crafts. Admission is £4 for adults, concessions £3.50, five to 16-year-olds £2 and family ticket £10. Under-fives and English Heritage members go free.
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