A Cwmbran man ran a 100-mile race last month to raise more funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
Paul Mason, 55, from Henllys, ran an ultramarathon called the Race Castle to Castle. His route saw him run for 31 hours from Bamburgh to Edinburgh on 19 July.
Paul said: “I went into this race with the intention of going sub 24 hours but within the first 20 miles, I decided that the main aim was to finish, as the weather and terrain were brutal.
“The wind and rain were relentless for over 12 hours, making the going really tough. I took three big falls, so it was a relief to have two bags at checkpoints further on where I had a change of clothes.”
‘Running through the night’
“Running through the night with the head torch was okay – all the company I had was an eclipse of moths and just hearing the waves crashing below.
“With 40 miles to go, my feet were in bits! The weather was certainly taking its toll.
“At 98 miles in and one last climb to go, I’m still figuring out how I managed to get up there! It was great having the family run with me on that stretch.
“250 out of the 600 who stood on the start line didn’t finish this race, so I’m really proud I got to the end.
“I’m so grateful for the generosity of everyone who has donated to my JustGiving fund. My motivation for taking on these ultra challenges is to support the incredible work done by Velindre and to give back for the wonderful care they gave to my late dad.
“Getting up for all those training runs at 4am in the dark is worth it.”
Last year, he ran his first ultramarathon for Velindre, where his late father received care. Paul took part in The Wall 70 Mile Ultra from Carlisle to Newcastle and crossed the finish line in 14 hours 43 seconds. His fundraising total now stands at £4,805.
Donate to Velindre Cancer Centre
Paul’s JustGiving page is still open if you would like to donate.