An ambitious 30-year-old, who is trying to raise �30,000 for charity with 30 different sporting events, received a surprise marriage proposal at the finish line of her first race.

Kate Hack, originally from Ipswich, who is taking on the challenge to mark her landmark birthday, took part in the Gruesome Twosome cross country half marathon in Lincolnshire, with her now fianc� Karl Brill, on November 18.

The event was the first of 30 that occupational therapist Kate will undertake to try to reach her fund-raising target, and 29-year-old Karl proposed to her straight after it.

She said: “It was a total surprise. I did not see it coming. I was slightly embarrassed by the rather public proposal but it was very romantic.”

Kate, who turned 30 on November 12, will split the funds she raises between 30 charities, including When You Wish Upon A Star, Rethink Mental Illness, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Alzheimer’s Society and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

She hopes the event will raise the profile of charities which are close to her own heart and those of her supporters.

Kate said: “Challenges should be achievable but definitely big. I instantly ruled out anything that would be considered fun or easy.

“I want people to sponsor me for pain and being challenged, not easy fun.”

Former Westbourne High School pupil Kate, who has raised �218 so far, will complete the 30 events in just 12 months, and her next challenge will be Rudolph’s Romp, a 24-mile cross country run in Yorkshire, on December 1st.

Other fund-raisers will include 30 hours of gym classes, the Brighton Marathon in April 2013 and the Outlaw Ironman in Nottingham in July 2013.

She said: “I’ve always known that I wanted to do a big fund-raising event at some point in my life.

“I think everyone should. I think it’s character building and it’s important to give something back.

“I think a project on this scale enables people to feel empowered and to bring a sense of community spirit, uniting people together.”

Kate, who now lives in Hull, said: “I’ve never done a fund-raising event and only plan on doing one once in my life, so I’d better make it count.”

To see the 30 charities that Kate is supporting and for further information about her challenges, visit her Project30 Team page at www.justgiving.com/teams/Project30