A MACHYNLLETH fundraiser will take on a 100km run to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance in memory of his friend.

Andrew Ellis will take part in the Race to the Stones on 15 July running from the Chilterns in Oxfordshire to the North Wessex Downs hoping to raise £1,000 in memory of John Edwards, who died in August 2015, aged 52.

Andrew, who has taken part in several physical challenges, including some to raise money for charity, said he had decided it was fitting to raise money in John’s memory and chose the Wales Air Ambulance as it was a charity that was strongly supported by John.

He said: “I decided to do the race as I like to do a challenge every year, but not always for charity as people do get fed up of being asked for money all the time.

“In 2012 a group of us did the Three Peaks Challenge, raising £4,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance, and in 2014 three of us trekked to Everest base camp raising over £7,000 for the British Heart Foundation, so I felt the time was right to raise funds again and do it in memory of John.

“John had strong connections over the years with both the football and rugby clubs in Machynlleth and thought the air ambulance service was brilliant and was reassured that if anything went wrong on the pitch, they were only minutes away.”

Anyone who would like to donate toward Andrew’s fundraising efforts can do so at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/andrewellis10 or sponsorship forms are available in Machynlleth.

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