ST DAVID’S DAY RUN REPORT AND PICTURES
A FATHER who suffered a brain injury and was deemed unfit to take part in a Cardiff fun run was determined to take part.
Jeff Williams, 58, fell off a ladder in 2013, suffering a major injury to his brain.
He has been helped by brain charity Headway over the past few years and wanted to give something back to the charity by running the St David’s Day Run to raise money for it.
Father-of-one Jeff, from Gilfach in the Rhymney Valley, raised more than £750 ahead of the event, which took place at Bute Park in Cardiff yesterday.
But doctors told him he would not be able to compete for medical reasons.
So Jeff, determined to run the 5k event, did 4k on a treadmill under medical supervision yesterday morning before arriving at the park to complete the final 1k on crutches, chaperoned by St John Ambulance staff.
Jeff said: “I wanted to do this to draw a line under my accident so I could move on. Headway do so much for brain injuries and even if I only raised 1p I would have been happy.”
A Welsh Ambulance spokesman said: “Jeff’s determination shone throughout the 1k and St John were only too happy to support him in his aim to complete this.”
Jeff was among 3,000 runners who turned out for the 14th annual event, which takes place on the weekend closest to March 1 each year.
This year’s run was in aid of the Lord Mayor’s charity, Cancer Research Wales.
The fun run was organised with support from the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT) and this year aimed to raise £50,000 for a number of charities.
It’s the biggest Cardiff run behind the Half Marathon and the 10k, and offers the 1k Run, 5k Run and the Cancer Research Wales 10k Run.
Huw Lewis, founding manager of the MPCT, said: “The weather has been really rough but it has not dampened the spirits here. It’s great to see so many people out here to support this fantastic cause. And the feedback we have had every year, including this year, has been outstanding.
“The run highlights and celebrates our important Welsh national holiday, and it’s now become a key event that’s fixed in the calendar for both ardent runners and families alike.
“The race continues to grow year on year, raising thousands upon thousands in the process for great causes.”
The MPCT is a training organisation based in Cardiff that helps young people to build valuable life skills, and aims to make the race openly accessible to entrants of all ages and fitness levels.
Mr Lewis added: “We always see some terrific costumes on show, and it’s a fantastic atmosphere.”