Two Ceredigion dads have completed an epic 100-mile castle to castle ultra marathon in aid of two important charities.
Paul Davies, 40, and Leighton Daniel took on the challenge of running from Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, to Edinburgh Castle and have so far raised around £7,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance and Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital.
The ultra marathon saw them tackle the 100 miles, with 40 hours of no sleep, 36 hours on the course, 29 hours of moving time and 202,000 steps, as well as a ‘tonne of cuppa-soup!’
Reflecting on the huge accomplishment an exhausted but proud Paul said ‘never again… until next time!’
He said: “This was both mentally and physically the hardest thing we’ve ever done. We can now sit back and reflect on our incredible achievement and the sheer scale of our accomplishment.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to our friends and family for all the support they have shown us. When times were tough, it was their messages that were coming through that really kept us both going.
“We’ve raised an incredible amount of money for two amazing charities.”
Paul, from Aberaeron, took on the challenge as a thank you to the Wales Air Ambulance medics who flew to his young son’s aid after he suffered serious burns in an accident.
Paul’s son Harri, 12, was 18-months-old when he suffered the accident, which resulted in hot liquid spilling on his arm and causing serious burns.
Paramedics attended Harri, and due to the severity of his injuries called for the assistance of the Wales Air Ambulance. Once stable, Harri was transported swiftly via helicopter to Morriston Hospital, a specialist hospital for his injuries.
Paul, who is also dad to Emily, 10, said: “Living in a rural part of Wales, where main hospital services can sometimes take a few hours’ drive to get to, the Wales Air Ambulance is such a valuable service to the community.
“For Harri to receive immediate help from the burns unit, he was airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, meaning the 1.5-hour car journey took less than 10 minutes.
“As parents, me and my wife, Rachel, will be forever grateful for the help they gave our son that day. Fundraising events, like this one, are so important to the air ambulance as they rely heavily on charitable donations, so I really wanted to give something back to them.”
Police Officer, Leighton Daniel, also a dad-of-two, and Paul set their fundraising target at £5,000, but quickly smashed that target. They will keep their fundraising page open until the end of the month if anyone would like to make a donation.
This is not the first time that Paul, who works as a general manager of Y Seler, has completed an ultra marathon. In 2020 he ran 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle within 16 hours!
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Elaine Orr, Regional Fundraising Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “Congratulations to Paul and Leighton on completing their huge castle to castle 100-mile ultra marathon. They should be incredibly proud of their efforts for taking on the challenge, whilst raising an amazing amount for two important charities.
“It is always heartwarming to hear of families who have needed the Wales Air Ambulance’s help, and go on to raise funds for us. Paul and Rachel know firsthand how important our service is to the people of Wales, when Harri needed to be treated and airlifted to hospital.
“A huge thank you to Paul and Leighton for picking our Charity as one of the good causes to raise funds for. They set themselves an epic challenge, and they accomplished it. Now put your feet up, you both deserve a well-earned rest.
“Fundraisers, like this one, will help us continue to be there for the people of Wales, wherever they are, when they need us most.
“A huge thank you also goes to everyone who has supported Paul and Leighton in this fundraiser.”
There is still time to show your support to both men by donating through their JustGiving page
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-davies-271
