Ponthafren has been overwhelmed by the response to our advert for someone to represent us at the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon. We had so many great applicants that we then shortlisted to a very strong final four.

We are pleased to announce that Ponthafren’s guaranteed place in the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon will be taken by Sue Carroll (age 59). Sue lives locally and is very passionate about the work that Ponthafren does. Sue has also been an Angel on the Newtown COVID network during lockdown.

“I’m over the moon to be representing Ponthafren at the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon. The work Ponthafren did during the COVID crisis highlighted for me what a valuable resource the charity is. It’s a Brilliant charity and I really want to support it.”

   

Sue has run the London Marathon in the past for other charities and has also completed the Berlin Marathon, Snowdon Marathon and the Jersey Marathon. She ran her first marathon in honour of her sister-in-law, who sadly passed away, and to raise funds for the hospice that had supported her. She has also recently completed the virtual Great North Run. Sue says that she has been looking for a local charity to represent and thinks Ponthafren is ideal.

Sue originally began running with her local ‘walk to run’ group in order to prove to a friend that ‘walk to run’ groups didn’t work. Over the weeks she went from walking to running and has been running for ten years now. She’d be the first to tell you that she was wrong and encourage you to join your local ‘walk to run’ group.

Sue says that, as she has a stressful job, she uses her running as a way to boost her stress relief. She feels that running gives her space. Her running also has a social element where she gets to meet her friends and they run together. She believes that running is a great way to build confidence and says it’s her way of managing her work-life balance.

Sue’s last fundraising project was in aid of Gobowen Hospital where she got friends involved and organised quiz nights, bake sales and even a bonus ball activity with her colleagues at work. Sue says she would love to get more local companies involved in her fundraising efforts.

Sue has plenty of ideas to raise sponsorship and fundraise for Ponthafren, these include: A 24-hour relay run, where someone is always moving, in order to show that many organisations offer 24 hour a day support and how physical activity can help your mental and physical health.

Everyone at Ponthafren is looking forward to working with Sue in the months in the run up to the Marathon and hope that the local community will help support Sue.