By EMILY BRIDGEWATER

A BROMSGROVE woman is enjoying a well-earned rest after completing a marathon fundraising challenge.

Jess Hawkesworth was one of four women who completed all six of the Race for Life events in the Midlands area, including the race at Bromsgrove Sanders Park on Sunday (July 27).

The energetic foursome, who all work for Beirsdorf, ran nearly 75 miles and raised more than £1000 for Cancer Research UK.

Personality

Jess, a former Bromsgrove Sports Personality of the Year, appeared in the Advertiser/Messenger last month alongside her mum, who has recovered from breast cancer.

"Having just experienced my mum to through the successful treatment of breast cancer, I know the importance of the research into cancer treatments so, when Beirsdorf asked for people to get behind the campaign there was holding me back," she said.

Beirsdorf, the local company behind top brands including Nivea and Elastoplast, is an associate sponsor of the Race for Life and has chosen Cancer Research UK as its official charity for 2003. They agreed to match funds raised by its staff on a pound for pound basis.

Beirsdorf sales and marketing director Andrew Frost explained: "We asked our staff to get behind the races and the response has been phenomenal.

"Everyone that took part can be proud and that is especially true of our team who ran all six races."