LOCAL Member of Parliament Jonathan Edwards will once again be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London for Llandovery-based charity ChallengeAid.
Challenge Aid was established in 2005 by Llandovery resident Iestyn Thomas, who also coaches the Llandovery College rugby team.
The charity helps disadvantaged children who live in appalling conditions in the developing world. It has worked with over a thousand schools and a 250,000 pupils, raising over a quarter of a million pounds.
The charity funds Schools of Hope which operate after school hours, giving children educational support by providing desks, chairs, lighting and most importantly a good supply of up-to-date text books with responsible supervision in a safe and conducive learning environment.
It gives aspirational young people the opportunity to succeed and escape a lifetime of poverty by improving their job prospects and helps to increase self-esteem through drama, music and sport at weekends, and enlightens them on life skills and health issues including the negative impact of alcohol, drugs and unprotected sex.
Supporters of the charity include global rugby super star George North.
This will be the second time the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP has run the Royal Park’s Half Marathon in favour of ChallengeAid.
Jonathan Edwards said he will be training over the summer months, including taking part in the Llandeilo 3 Parks Challenge this weekend, to get in shape for the half marathon later this year.
Member of Parliament Jonathan Edwards said: “As many of the thousands of people who take part in regular running will tell you, it’s hugely rewarding to complete a half marathon. It’s even more rewarding knowing that in doing so you have raised money for a very important cause.
“Having it experienced the run before, I’m definitely more confident than I was the last time, not least because I’ve spent months walking the streets campaigning in the election. Elections are always a good way of keeping fit!
“I see week in week out the generosity of local residents in the many events I attend as an elected member. I ask sincerely of those who are able to give a few pounds to do so in aid of ChallengeAid.”
Iestyn Thomas of Llandoverybased ChallengeAid added: “Many MPs have lots to say about lots of subjects. It is wonderful however to see our MP getting out there, putting his body on the line and taking part in this Challenge again for the benefit of children who live in some of the most appalling conditions on our planet. I applaud Jonathan’s effort!”
Add Comment