Bike marathon will take Batgirl to Costa Rica

Dec 4 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A STRATHAVEN woman faced the challenge of a lifetime when she took part in a cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh in aid of charity.

Sarah Rogerson (26), from Westfield Park, is usually seen encouraging the public to compost at home with Waste Aware Scotland, but last Saturday she transformed herself into Batgirl with cape and costume and cycled over 60 miles along the Forth and Clyde, and Union canals to raise money for Raleigh International.

Sarah said before the challenge: “I’ve not been cycling for years so this was definitely my biggest challenge ever.

“The last time I got any serious exercise was running the Resolution Asset Management Women’s 10K in 2006 and that was almost three years ago.

However, Sarah took this challenge very seriously.

She added: “I’ve been in the gym cycling every night after work and sewing my Batman costume at weekends, I must be mad.”

Sarah grew up in Strathaven, attended Strathaven Academy and worked for Soaves Cafe for six years.

She is the daughter of former West Kirk minister Rev S D Rogerson and has always been an active member of the local community.

The hard work will be worthwhile for Sarah if she succeeds in raising her target figure of £2000 for Raleigh International.

Sarah will be joining Raleigh on a 13-week expedition to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in June next year.

Sarah explained: “When I was accepted to join the expedition I was delighted.

“I’m looking forward to working with groups of young people from a wide range of social backgrounds on long-term, beneficial environmental and community developments.

“Projects such as building a primary school for a community or supplying running water to a remote village.”

Over the last 22 years, more than 30,000 volunteers from 72 nations have taken part in around 200 expeditions with Raleigh to 35 different countries, who have all benefited from one of the most powerful and rewarding experiences around.

To sponsor Sarah, visit her online fund-raising page on www.justgiving.com/sarahrogerson .

Payment can be made by credit or debit card, and the money will go directly to Raleigh International.

Where supporters are UK taxpayers, the charity will automatically receive 28 per cent extra in Gift Aid.

For more information, contact Sarah Rogerson on 07738 676 711 or email: sarahrogerson150@hotmail.com.

Visit: www.raleighinternational.org