Heat is on for runner (From Penarth Times)

Heat is on for runner

A PENARTH woman has completed a marathon in sweltering temperatures in Germany to raise cash for Marie Curie Hospice Penarth (formerly known as Holme Tower).

German-born Heike Verdon, of Westbourne Road, finished the picturesque course from Oberwesel to Koblenz, in a time of five hours 12 minutes.

This was the first Mittelrhein Marathon to be held, and it attracted almost 10,000 competitors.

Heike, who is 41, was placed at 463 out of the 876 women who took part.

The sweltering 35C heat provided little help to the weary runners, 300 of whom collapsed in the high temperatures - with a further 45 hospitalised.

Heike"s motivation to compete was to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Having seen her own mother battle against bowel cancer, she wanted to make sure all cancer patients in Wales can be provided with state-of-the-art equipment in order to combat the disease as successfully as her mother was able to in Germany.

Every penny of the sponsorship money Heike has raised will go to Marie Curie Hospice Penarth, to help purchase £900 syringe drivers.

Heike said: "I have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown to me by the people of Penarth.

"I thank everyone for their support, and remind those people who have pledged some money to let me have this as soon as possible, so that I can then forward it all to Holme Tower."

* It is still not too late to sponsor Heike and help raise money for this worthy cause, log on to justgiving.com/heikeverdon - she greatly appreciates all your support.