A MUSIC marathon has been organised in aid of Prospect Hospice and the Adver’s 160 Appeal by Sarah Heads, whose father was cared for by the hospice in 2007.

Sarah, 38, of Redcliffe Street in Rodbourne, is seeking entertainers, musicians and raffle prizes for her marathon, which will take place on July 12 at Swindon Town’s Legends Lounge.

Twelve hours of non-stop music will play out across two stages, with money raised going towards the 160 Appeal and Ruby’s Fat Cow Fund, a children’s cancer charity.

She was inspired to do all she could to raise funds for the hospice after it cared for her father and offered support to her mother.

She said: “I have been inundated with people coming back to me with raffle prizes after I put a call out on Facebook, but you can never have too many.

“Unfortunately my father passed away in February 2007 and used the care Prospect offered in the weeks before his death.

“I just want to give something back and your time doesn’t cost anything. It opens your eyes when you actually go through watching people with cancer.

“Until you have used the service they offer you don’t realise.

“My mum stayed there for the whole time with my dad, and they fed her.”

Sarah’s dad, Colin Winterflood, died at the age of 61 after a battle with lung cancer which spread through his body. During his time at the hospice his daughter was pregnant with her son, a boy he never got to meet.

In the period following his death, Sarah needed to raise her son and began her own business in payroll administration, leaving her little time to raise money.

She is using the time she now has to begin paying back that debt she feels she owes for the work Prospect did with her father.

“My mum had her 60th birthday whilst Dad was at the hospice, but instead of a party she had a concert at the Ellendune (community centre in Wroughton), where she raised a couple of thousand pounds for Prospect,” said Sarah.

“Byron’s bar in town also did a music marathon a few years ago and raised over £2,000 for Prospect, so I will try to emulate that, if I can.

“I have done a solo parachute jump in aid of Ruby’s Fat Cow Fund in the past, but it’s time for me to do something more, I think.”

Sarah already has responses from as far afield as Milton Keynes for requests to play at the marathon. She is looking to charge a small entrance fee to get donations rolling, but will also hold a raffle, sweet shop and carry buckets around the lounge on the day itself.

If anyone is interested in performing at the marathon or in donating any raffle prizes, email Sarah at musicmarathon@hotmail.com.