An interior designer and mother-of-two is getting set to join the ranks of the muddy masses by taking on The Hospice of St Francis’ legendary Mud Pack Challenge for the second time in memory of her mother who died at the hospice nearly 20 years ago.

Sarah Richardson, 46, from Hazlemere, first got filthy for St Francis to say thank you for the care she and her family received while her mum Suzanne Hearn was a patient at the hospice in 2001.

She has now signed up for more muddy fun after ducking and diving, slipping and sliding her way around the course three years ago.

“It was amazing, I loved every minute of it,” Sarah said. “It was something I hadn’t done before and I like a challenge. I think it helps that I quite like getting muddy.

“This year my 15-year-old son Freddie is joining me and he hates mud so on that basis alone I hope we’ll raise a lot of money for the hospice.”

Sarah began supporting the hospice when her mum was a patient in the old Shrublands Road site in Berkhamsted.

She ran the London Marathon the day after her mum died - fuelled by banana sandwiches made by hospice chef Chris Took.

“The care they gave my mum was amazing. She couldn’t have been better looked after. I could go and visit her any time day or night and I was always made to feel welcome. They were so attentive to mum and did everything they could to make her comfortable.

“I’d signed up to do the London Marathon for Macmillan when I found out mum had cancer as I wanted to give something back.

“Chris knew I was training for the marathon and whenever I went in to see mum he would make me these huge doorstop banana sandwiches to keep my energy up.

“She died on the Saturday before the race but I knew I had to still go ahead and do it. I went into the hospice the next day to show the nurses my medal.

“The hospice is still close to my heart and I always try to raise as much money for it as I can so that it’s there to help other families like mine.”

Places for the fundraiser are filling fast so if you want to sign up for the five or 10-mile obstacle course through the 190-acre grounds and woodland of Ashridge House, on Sunday, October 21, visit www.stfrancis.org.uk/mudpack.

Nicky Maxwell-Braithwaite, events fundraiser at the hospice, said: “If you haven’t done the Mud Pack Challenge before, now is your chance to join the muddy masses and become a mud warrior for the day.”

Last year saw a record 900 people join in.