With an ambitious fundraising challenge lined up for 2025, Parkinson’s UK Cymru has been chosen as the Welshpool mayor’s charity for the year.

Having taken part in seven 10k runs in seven days earlier this year in aid of Parkinson’s UK, former Llanfair Caereinion headteacher Philip Jones is planning to up the ante with eight runs in eight days for 2025, with the backing of Welshpool’s mayor Cllr Phil Owen.

Cllr Owen met with Mr Jones on Thursday, November 21, having named Parkinson’s UK Cymru as his official charity of the year for 2025.

Cllr Owen said: “There was a lot that went into picking my mayor’s charity of the year, as of course there are lots of worthy and laudable causes.

“I was able to have a meeting with some Parkinson’s UK representatives at one of their events, a charity walk, getting a chance to see the excellent work they were doing with funds raised from an event rooted in Welshpool.

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“I know the Montgomeryshire branch of Parkinson’s UK are very active and effective, so it helps to see that funds raised will be put to really good use for people in the area, as Parkinson’s is such a widespread issue and people living with it need support regardless of where they are.

Mr Jones’ week of running is began on March 18, with a 10k run along the Montgomery canal, before heading to other venues at Newtown College Campus, Gregynog Hall and Ysgol Meifod, with Welshpool 10k serving as the finale, raising over £10,000 with the challenge.

(Image: Picture by Phil Blagg Photography. PB028-2024)

Before starting the challenge, he said that it was inspired by his father, who was living with Parkinson’s for several years and passed away in November while Mr Jones was planning it, which he said gave the 10k runs a “more emotional dimension”.

On what he hopes to do in 2025, he added: “Every charity is fighting for its own headspace and it can be fatiguing with so many important causes needing support, but I hope just raising the profile and awareness of Parkinson’s goes a long way.

“Getting better at identifying it is a huge step in providing better support, so getting people talking and taking part is as much an aim of the challenge as fundraising is.”

The challenge is scheduled to begin on March 16, 2025.