28-04-2025
Runners from Powys complete the London Marathon 2025
Runners from across Powys were among the record number of participants who crossed the finishing line of the London Marathon on Sunday.
Among the more than 56,000 runners who completed the 26.2-mile course for their chosen charities were Rhiannon Jones and Catherine Price.
Mum-of-three young children Catherine Price, who lives in Llaithddu near Llanbadarn Fynydd, was running the marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity and has raised almost £3,800.
Her family received the devastating news in November that her fit and healthy mum had a terminal and aggressive form of brain cancer and only had up to 15 months to live if she had an operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible.
But in an unbelievable turn of events, surgeons told her mum that she had been misdiagnosed and had in fact suffered a stroke and the deadly tumour was actually brain fluid.
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'Although we feel incredibly lucky to still have mum, people like you and me will every day, receive the awful news that they or their loved one has a brain tumour,' Catherine said.
'Our recent experience really brought it home that many families are living a nightmare because of this life shattering disease.
'Although it's an almighty task, both physically and mentally, running a marathon is easy compared with living with a brain tumour, terminal or not.'
Catherine ran more than 200 miles since February to prepare for the iconic event which she described as an 'amazing experience'.
'There were crowds all the way along the 26.2-mile route. It was a hot one though, temperatures reached 22 degrees.
'I was pleased to get round in one piece and was happy with my finishing time.'
Meanwhile, mum-of-four Rhiannon Jones, who's 34 and originally from Welshpool but now lives in Montgomery, was running for the charity Cerebral Palsy Cymru which has supported her three-year-old son Axel who has the lifelong condition.
Axel was born with a complex heart condition and was ventilated for more than a month. The poorly baby boy nearly died from sepsis and suffered significant brain damage. He underwent his second open heart surgery last summer and this week he is starting nursery four days a week.
'He is incredible,' proud mum Rhiannon said. 'He can't walk, talk or crawl and he's fed through a PEG (a feeding tube) but he really does a lot. He's so determined and knows what he wants. He's thriving at the moment.'
Rhiannon completed her first ever marathon in four hours and 11 minutes in what was an emotional experience.
'It was really incredible from start to finish. I cried crossing the line. Honestly, it was amazing.
'Seeing my husband twice and having random people shouting my name was a proper boost. I would 100 per cent do it again.'
Not only did Rhiannon smash her target time by almost 50 minutes but also her fundraising after raising more than £3,100, which included £1,000 from a coffee morning in Montgomery.
'I loved it. It's such a boost to know that I've put in the hard work with training and into fundraising. People are really kind and have donated. It's something quite special.'
The public ballot for the 2026 London Marathon will close on Friday (May 2). The results of the free random draw will be announced by email in July.
