A RADNORSHIRE farmer will swap his wellies and green fields for running shoes and the streets of the Welsh capital next month when he takes on the Cardiff Half Marathon.

Matthew Williams, who farms near Llanbister Road, between Knighton and Llandrindod Wells, decided about 18 months ago he wanted to raise money for a charity that supports farmers, given the grave statistics surfacing in recent years about the link between mental health and suicide in the agricultural industry.

Matthew, 45, wanted to take on a challenge he knew he would find difficult and uncomfortable, and he describes the prospect of completing a half marathon at the start of the year as “impossible”.

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“I couldn’t have run a half marathon six months ago, no way. I’m not sure I can do it now,” admitted the father-of-three.

“There’s lots of people out there who can run a half marathon like it’s nothing but for me it’s hard.”

As part of a New Year pledge to get fitter, Matthew signed up for Cardiff, which will take place on Sunday, October 6.

He also joined his local running club, Maldwyn Harriers, in Newtown, and now runs regularly, about three times a week. He was previously close to 20 stone but has lost 4-5 stone so it’s a New Year’s resolution he has stuck with.

He started off with a modest goal, of raising £1,000, but people have already donated more than £4,500 to the cause. This includes around £2,600, raised when auctioneers McCartneys arranged a ‘donate a lamb day’ at Knighton market, with 20 lambs donated and sold.

Matthew joined his local running club, Maldwyn Harriers, in Newtown, and now runs regularly, about three times a week. He has also lost 4-5 stone.Matthew joined his local running club, Maldwyn Harriers, in Newtown, and now runs regularly, about three times a week. He has also lost 4-5 stone. (Image: Williams family) “I’m blown away by what I’ve raised,” said Matthew, who’s been encouraged by his family; wife Beccie, daughters Layla and Vida and son James.

“I think there was a feeling among many people I know that ‘there’s no way you’re going to run a half marathon’, so I think that’s why some people have given me money.”

After setting himself the goal, Matthew needed a cause to champion, and that is the DPJ Foundation, which supports people working in farming circles.

“I saw the DPJ people at the Royal Welsh Show in July and they told me that since January their calls have gone up 70 per cent,” added Matthew.

“One farmer a week is killing themselves. I know that farmers hold their cards to their chests a lot; they’re big burly men and act like nothing bothers them, but that’s a load of crap.

“They’re definitely affected by mental health and the proof is in the pudding, there’s a high suicide rate among them.

“It can be a very isolated profession. Financial pressures are a big thing too. We worry about the lamb trade, importing goods, if you’re of a certain age and you haven’t diversified you might be concerned, it’s really worrying for some farmers.

“The pressures we are now all facing is very real and very unpredictable.”

If you’d like to add to Matthew’s DPJ cause, donate at https://shorturl.at/9OENo.