Team including two former Swansea City footballers take on The Great Gower Run

The Great Gower Run, which takes place on May 20, follows the coast path from Rhossili to Mumbles. The route covers challenging terrain, with many ascents and sand dunes. Richard and his companions are currently in training to ensure they can complete the task. 

Daniel Alfei and Shaun Macdonald are former Swansea City professional footballers, so they are accustomed to demanding training programmes, but for Richard this is new:

“We wanted to do a challenge that meant I could look people in the eye and ask for sponsorship because it’s genuinely very hard,” he said. “Apart from playing 5-a-side occasionally my fitness is going from basically zero to this. We hope to raise some much-needed funds to enable Faith in Families to carry on the great work they do through their Brighter Futures team.”

Brighter Futures is a Faith in Families initiative that’s delivered in 40 local schools and through Faith in Families’ Bonymaen Community Cwtch, Clase Community Cwtch and Teilo’s Community Cwtch. The project supports over 500 children each week to be brave and understand their emotions and pain. 

Faith in Families CEO Cherrie Bija explains: “Children who have experienced often multiple adverse childhood experiences and are struggling with big emotions, such as anger and anxiety, often display this in unwanted behaviours, meaning that they find life in general, difficult and confusing. They have few opportunities to develop social skills, are unable to control emotions and have limited positive relationships to learn from. They at times feel hopeless, and this is increasing as the cost-of-living crisis plummets them into greater destitution, normalising the fear and anxiety in which they are growing up in each day.

“Our Brighter Futures project seeks to support these children, helping them to thrive and develop into happy adults. We’re delighted that Richard, Stuart, Daniel and Shaun have taken on The Great Gower Run to raise money for this project. We really appreciate all the time and effort that goes into training for and completing a challenge like this and we’re so impressed by what they are doing. We really hope people will give generously via their Local Giving page, raising vital funds so that we can support children through these challenging times.”

In addition to the Great Gower Run, Mortgage Advice Bureau is holding a golf day at Clyne Golf Club on May 12. Money raised by the run and the golf day will go into the Mortgage Advice Bureau’s crowdfunding campaign for Brighter Futures. If the funds reach £5,000, the Mortgage Advice Bureau will match fund it.

“We’re determined to raise as much money as we can for this vital project,” said Richard. “It provides a lifeline for hundreds of children and their families and its importance cannot be underestimated.”

You can support the runners via their Local Giving page: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/GreatGowerRun/

Anyone wanting to attend the golf day can email: Richard.Hullin@mab.org.uk

Lead image: Cherrie Bija, a mum and child from the project, David Lewis, Mortgage Advice Bureau co-director and Owner Director of Mortgage Advice Bureau Swansea Richard Hullin.