Sarah Jouault approaches £100k target

Sarah Jouault has spent the last 13 years raising money for a host of children’s charities and is now nearing the finishing line.

She is just £3,000 away from her epic target with the money going to charities including Chestnut Tree House, Rocking Horse, Snowdrop trust, Great Ormond Street, Whizz Kids and the baby unit at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester.

For Sarah, who runs Dimitri Hair & Beauty, in Felpham, raising money for children’s charities is a cause close to her heart.

Her daughter had meningitis as a baby and she credits a retired paediatrician with saving her life.

“I was told my daughter was going to die,” said Sarah. “I just feel very, very lucky that I have got all my children here with me as adults.

“To lose a child must be the worst thing ever.

“I have just always raised money for kids that are very sick. I just want to make their time as happy as possible.”

Ironman

On Sunday, Sarah, from Selsey, took part in the Ironman 70.3 UK race at Exmoor.

Despite poor weather conditions, and a tough slog in the cycle section, she went on to win and will now compete in the Lake Las Vegas Ironman World Championships 70.3 in September.

“It was very, very hard because it was horrendous weather,” said Sarah.

“The last six miles of the bike ride I cycled in my small cog because my hands were so cold I couldn’t change gear. I beat the cut-off time by six minutes.”

In the run, however, Sarah more than made up for lost time, beating not only her own age category but also the younger group. “I was really chuffed,” she said. “They say the Ironman on Exmoor is the hardest Ironman in the world.”

Auction

To help reach her final target, Sarah is holding an auction for a host of luxury lots.

The auction is open for bids now and a final sale will be held on July 22 at the salon in Felpham Road where everything must go.

Thanking everyone who has donated lots, Sarah said: “People have been fantastic, nobody has said ‘no’ to me.

“I think because I have raised so much and I am so close that is why people have been so generous. I am sure I am going to reach my target.

“Everybody has been fantastic.”

Details of some of the lots and how to bid are included below.

Sarah also recently held a bread, jam and cake sale, supported by customers and staff at the salon, raising £500, and is holding two more sales on July and August 20.

“My staff and my customers are always amazing, they always sponsor me as well” she said.

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone.”

Next Step

During her time fundraising, Sarah has raced for Great Britain seven times in world championships and been ranked first in the UK for Ironman.

As well as representing her country again in Las Vegas in September, she is set to take part in the European 70.3 Ironman Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, this summer.

So what are her plans for when she has finally reached the £100,000 mark?

“This is my big year so I want to win a national and it is my 60th birthday so I want to reach £100,000 and then retire,” she said.

However, retirement may not be that quiet for Sarah, who still plans to run triathlon events for fun and is planning to take part in next year’s London Marathon in the 60 and over age category.

“I am hoping to win my age group in the marathon,” she said. “After that I will just do races for fun.”

Auction lots

Auction lots up for grabs include:

A box at Goodwood racecourse on Sunday, August 25, for 16 people in the Sussex Box. The stewards package includes Richmond enclosure badges, parking, race cards, pre-lunch drinks, a three-course lunch, afternoon tea, unlimited wines, beers and soft drinks.

A 45-minute flight in a Harvard, including a loop-the-loop and the chance to take the controls, donated by Goodwood aviation.

A limo ride and dinner.

One week in France.

The chance to drive a Ferrari, donated by Mythrill.

A one-month pass to Bunn Leisure, including a massage.

The chance to drive any Honda for a weekend, donated by Yeomans, of Chichester.

A three-course à la carte dinner, with Champagne, at Raymond Blanc.

A £200 holiday voucher.

Vouchers for massages.

A three-course dinner and wine at The Fox Goes Free.

Premier lounge passes for Fontwell Racecourse for four people on November 17.

A handy man for the day.

To bid for any of the lots call 01243 821282 or visit Dimitri Hair & Beauty Spa, 54-56 Felpham Road, Felpham.