A woman from Talybont who was born with a congenital heart condition has beaten the odds to take part in her second half-marathon.

Sophie Angharad Jones, 36, completed the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, 6 October, in less than two and a half hours.

Sophie, who works as a care assistant at Hafod Mawddach Care Home in Barmouth, decided to run the half-marathon for charity, and has so far raised over £400 for the NSPCC.

This was Sophie’s second half marathon after taking part in the Bangor Half Marathon last year.

And she also hopes to complete the Anglesey Half Marathon in March alongside friends.

In 2018 the Cardiff Half Marathon raised over £3 million for various charities. This year’s total has yet to be revealed.

Thanking those who have donated to Sophie personally, she said: “Everybody has been really generous.”

Sophie’s mother, father and daughter were there on Sunday to cheer Sophie on, and her parents must have been particularly proud given everything she has overcome.

As a newborn baby, Sophie suffered from Coarctation of the Aorta (a congenital condition in which the aorta is narrow), as well as having two holes in her heart.

The Coarctation of the Aorta was repaired in surgery using a pig’s bladder when Sophie was only eight days old.

She then had another operation at the age of three months.

Training for the Cardiff Half Marathon did not come without difficulty for Sophie, who joined Harlech running club, running with them on most Wednesdays.

“I had to put a lot of training in. I go to the gym and go running with friends.

“But it was worth it in the end. I really enjoyed it.”

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