IT saved her life when she was born 13 weeks premature, weighing less than a bag of sugar.

Sarah Morley spent three months in York District Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit until she was finally well enough to go home.

Now she is a thriving three-year-old, and she is saying thank you to the unit by taking part in a sponsored trikeathon.

She plans to cycle to raise money for the unit, and she has already been sponsored for £180. Sarah's mum, Alison, from Osbaldwick, said her daughter was born weighing only 1lb 10oz. The family has raised money before for the unit, with Sarah's big sister Claire selling fruit during her lunch break at school.

"Sarah's really well now," she said. "She weighs two-and-a-half stone. And now she's three she's able to raise money herself.

"She pedals around the village on her trike to strengthen her legs, and everyone comments upon how good she is.

"She'll be cycling for half an hour around her big sister Claire's playground at Osbaldwick primary school, and we've already raised £180 in sponsorship in a fortnight.

"We just want to take another opportunity to thank the unit, they did everything they could for her. It's now our turn to help them back."

Updated: 12:31 Wednesday, July 11, 2001