A ten-year-old from Llanon completed a 72 mile challenge last month and managed to raise over £200 to support refugees.

Ethan Edwards and his mum, Kirstie Edwards, completed 72 miles over the course of September, to raise funds for the British Red Cross, who provide services and support for refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants, and survivors of trafficking.

Kirstie said: “We both wanted to do something to help refugees after watching them on the news, and we thought this was a great way to do it.

“We could do the miles any way we wanted, so we did running, cycling, and walking. We did quite a few of the miles in Llanon, but also in New Quay, Aberaeron, and the Elan Valley. We made sure we paced it throughout the month so we wouldn’t have to panic to get a load of miles done at the end.

“We found the challenge fine as we paced ourselves pretty well over the month so we wouldn’t get caught out at the end with a load of miles.

“We managed to raise over £200 and had a lot of local support in Llanon!

“Ethan did the Couch to 5K app over the summer. At the beginning he couldn’t run for a minute, but at the end he could run 5km without having to stop. We now do the Llanarchaeron park run on a Saturday morning and he recently managed a personal best of 34 minutes!

“He’s also joined the Aberystwyth Athletics junior running club on a Tuesday, after school, and is really enjoying it.

“He was very pleased with how much money we managed to raise. We will look at doing another challenge soon.”

Ruth Gwilym Rasool, refugee support operations manager for Wales at the British Red Cross said: “We are grateful for the efforts of everyone who came together in support of our ‘Miles for Refugees’ campaign carried out last month.

“People who have had to leave their countries due to war, persecution, extreme famine or devastating natural disasters have experienced the worst things in life. We have seen just how?heart-breaking?these journeys have been for Afghan families recently arriving in the UK.?

“The British Red Cross has been calling for a kinder, more compassionate asylum system to support people who have been forced to leave their home behind and take dangerous journeys. We believe every refugee matters.?

“A wave of people in the UK clearly care about people seeking refuge and asylum in the UK. Remarkably, we are seeing so many eager to help personally. By taking part in Miles for Refugees, you are showing the very best of humankind.”

Ethan is following in the footsteps of his younger brother, Jake, and his dad, Nick, who also completed a 100-mile cycling challenge during August, and raised £135 for Alzheimer’s Society.

Jake and Nick have just started a new challenge, which will last for October, to raise money for and say “thank you for going over and above” to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.