Llangollen Round wins national award for its charity support

* Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes met Llangollen Round organisers to congratulate them on the £120,000-plus they raised in 2022. From left: Nadine Isaacs from Cancer Research UK, challenge organiser Judy Smith, Simon Baynes MP and organisers Jason Morley and Sandra Woodhall. 

Organisers of the Llangollen Round Challenge have won a national award for the major support they have given to a cancer charity.

The often gruelling 35-mile run/walk through the beautiful yet tough terrain of the hills surrounding the town was launched in 2012 by members of the Llangollen Ramblers group and is based roughly on the Alpine Walk Tour of Mont Blanc.

The amount raised for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by the challenge has climbed steadily from £33,000 to last year's total of almost £120,000 which was boosted by government returns on charity donations.

In recognition of this massive cash support for CRUK and the involvement and commitment of around 100 volunteers who run the event the Round has been selected for the Flame of Hope Award.

These national awards are CRUK's annual accolades to celebrate the achievements of its most outstanding and inspiring volunteers.  

This year they received a record-breaking 835 nominations from staff and volunteers across the country.

Judith Smith, a Llangollen Round founder and organiser, said: "We will be receiving the award at a ceremony in Manchester at the end of March, after which the Tourist Information Centre in Llangollen has agreed to put it on display for a limited time. Do go and take a look.

"We are very grateful to all of you who have offered your support in whatever context - this recognition is yours also."  

The 2022 Round attracted over 500 entries from across the UK and abroad and saw 238 walkers or runners finishing it in a single day with another 189 completing it in two. 

The event can be completed in either one or two days and also saw another record set for the route being completed in the fastest time.

A fresh record was set when the first person back at the event's Llangollen Leisure Centre base was certified to have covered the whole 35 miles in just seven hours.

The fastest woman completed it in just seven hours and 34 minutes. 

The two oldest people to complete the course were aged 90 and 87.

As usual 80 volunteers manned checkpoints along the route where those taking part were served with water supplied free by local businesses and cakes presented by home bakers in the area.

More helpers were back at base checking in participants and handing out their times.