Super six complete 200-mile Wales 3 Peaks marathon

Six local runners have tackled the three highest peaks in Wales in just 34 hours, raising £2,000 for a charity that raises awareness of a chromosome deletion disorder.

Jordan Powell, Ria Davey, Connor Parry, Cameron Parry, Huw McGrath and Tim Davies ran the Welsh 3 Peaks challenge as part of a relay team, to raise awareness and highlight the work of the charity Max Appeal.

Max Appeal’s mission is to increase awareness and the understanding of, and the co-ordination of care with people who have been diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome or 22q11.2 Chromosome Deletion Disorder.

The disorder can affect the health and quality of life from birth through to infancy and childhood to adult life with over 180 physical, functional, and psychological associations having been reported.

The team started from Plas Robin Retreats in Llandyssil, Montgomeryshire, to Pen Y Fan in the Beacons, to Cader Idris, and finished with Snowdon. Not only tackling these mountains as quickly as possible but they ran the whole 200-mile route from start to finish, which is the equivalent of 7.5 Marathons performed back-to-back.

The typical Welsh Three Peaks challenge normally involves walking up each of the three highest peaks in Wales, driving between each mountain before starting the ascension.

But the group decided to go one further and ran from their start line in Montgomeryshire and then running to each mountain.

The ‘Mammoth’ achievement caught the eye of local Senedd Member Russell George MS, who raised the achievement on the Senedd floor this week, congratulating his six constituents on their achievement and highlighting the Max Appeal charity in front of Members of the Senedd. 

Jordan Powell, one of the six, said: “Completing this challenge was incredibly tough but even more rewarding knowing that we were raising awareness and money for Max Appeal.

“I wanted to do this challenge because my son Jonah, was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome “DSG” in 2023, when he was two. The disorder affects health and quality of life from birth through to infancy and childhood to adult life with over 180 physical, functional and psychological associations having been reported.

“Max Appeal’s mission is to increase awareness, the understanding of and the co-ordination of care of the deletion syndrome. The money raised will enable Max Appeal to continue doing this and support those families affected.

“I am delighted with our groups achievement was raised in the Senedd this week and I am grateful to all those that have sponsored us.”

Commenting after speaking in the Senedd, Mr George said: “I’d like to congratulate Jordan, Ria, Connor, Cameron, Huw and Tim on a mammoth achievement.

“I am always impressed when people take on the usual three peaks challenge, but running between each mountain also, and with raising almost £2,000 for charity, I had to raise this phenomenal effort in the Senedd chamber.

“I thought it was also important to raise awareness of DiGeorge Syndrome or 22q11.2 Chromosome Deletion Disorder as few people are aware of it or its impact on the people who are affected by it. The team of 6 have done themselves and Max Appeal proud.

“This fantastic achievement will inspire many, and I hope will raise awareness of the brilliant charity, Max Appeal. People can still donate, so I hope they can raise more over the coming weeks.”

Readers can still donate here

PICTURE: Carol and David Parry of Plas Robin Retreats, Llandyssil, who sponsored the super six.