This year Pete Ballantyne and Lewis Allwood from BDW South Wales are tackling the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 1st followed up with the London Marathon on April 21st. Both non-runners are taking on this challenge to raise funds for Marie Curie Cymru and are appealing for funds to power them through both finish lines. Training has been sporadic for both up until this point, so the aim is to FINISH the Cardiff Half, dust ourselves off, and ramp up training for the big one in April.

Marie Curie Cymru is the annual charity of BDW South Wales, which are raising funds throughout the year for a cause that many of you are familiar with. For those who are not, they provide care and support throughout terminal illness and are there for those facing such adversity in their darkest times.

The cause is most personal to Pete, who tragically lost his wife Lara after a long-fought battle with Cancer. Lara, a mother to two young daughters, only 8 & 13, was originally diagnosed in Oct 2018 and after four long and at many times very painful years, she finally succumbed to her illness. Our reason for raising money for Marie Curie, has been brought about by Lara’s near inability to receive care in the Marie Curie Hospice, based in Penarth, known to lots of people as Holme Towers.

Whilst the incredible Hospice offers state-of-the-art facilities and wonderful, loving care, for up to 28 patients, COVID and lack of fundraising and government support means that at the time of Lara’s admission, there were only 12 beds available.

Should there have been more money available to pay for the wonderful doctors and nursing staff, perhaps Lara may have had longer than the last 8 hours of her life, in the peace and quiet that Holme Towers is known for.

We ask you all to dig deep for this fantastic cause and wish both Pete & Lewis strong lungs and legs for the challenges ahead.