A FORMER resident of Comet country, hailed as the the sexy, blonde Nigella of the homemaking world , is adding her support to an overnight charity marathon. Craft guru Danielle Proud, 33, spent much of her childhood in Letchworth GC and her parents still

A FORMER resident of Comet country, hailed as the "the sexy, blonde Nigella of the homemaking world", is adding her support to an overnight charity marathon.

Craft guru Danielle Proud, 33, spent much of her childhood in Letchworth GC and her parents still live in Wilbury Road.

She is quickly becoming a hot name in the craft world, and has been asked by Playtex, sponsors of the Moonwalk - an overnight walk the distance of a marathon - to help encourage participants to decorate the free bra they get to wear to the event.

More than 15,000 women and men will take part in this Saturday's Moonwalk, in aid of breast cancer research and cancer care.

Danielle, who went to Highfield School and St Francis College in Letchworth GC, has put together some tips on bra customising and there are also limited edition kits for participants to win.

Danielle said: "I'm obviously really keen to be involved with Playtex in supporting the Moonwalk as it's for such a good cause.

"Everyone seems to know someone it has affected -

for me it was my mother-in-law, who is an amazing woman and thankfully has completely recovered.

"The Moonwalk is great as it gives us an opportunity to focus on raising money to help.

"What I'm doing with Playtex helps too.

"The wilder the walkers' bras get in terms of how they're customised, the more fun the event is, the more people report on it and awareness is raised.

"Last year it looked like a carnival - hopefully this year will be the same."

Residents of Comet country will be among the walkers taking part in Saturday night's event which starts and finishes in Hyde Park, London.

A group of mainly Hitchin residents, who are calling themselves the Pink Ladies, have been preparing for the event since January.

Annemarie Hussey, Sharon Fellows, Maureen Price, Helen King, Lyn Brack, Suzanne Kingham, Lisa Marven, Alison Boyle, Deirdre Saliba, Catherine Edwards and Vicki Springett all know each other through Our Lady RC Primary School and Our Lady Immaculate and St Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Hitchin.

The group has been sticking to a strict training plan, which sometimes sees them walk up to 40 miles a week, and has included 6am Saturday sessions.

Alison Boyle said: "We've all been incredibly stringent, we've been very good and sticking to it. Our dogs have never been so fit."

A team going by the name of the Moonlight Gardeners from Letchworth GC and Codicote will also be among the walkers.

Pam Grainger and her daughter Emma, Pam's sister-in-law Moira McKeown and their friend Joy Stroud will be pounding the streets of London in their customised bras.

Pam said: "It's a challenge and it's to raise money for a very good cause.

"Breast cancer affects not just women but men so that's why we're doing it."

* Danielle Proud's customising tips are available from www.play tex.co.uk. To sponsor the Pink Ladies, ring Alison Boyle on 01462 452700, or hand in your donation, marked for the Pink Ladies, to Our Lady RC Primary School in Hitchin.