Super-fit Abergele pensioner tackles Conwy Half Marathon

Dennis Smith, from Abergele, took on the challenge on October 16 with his 'Wing Woman' Ilona Kurta, as they worked together to raise funds for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices.

The 'super-fit' pensioner began jogging more frequently in 2022 after his wife Barbra passed away due to Parkinson's disease.

Since then, Dennis has completed his 400th Park Run 5km event at Penrhyn Castle and regularly joins informal running groups in Menai Bridge and Abergele.

Before the event, Mr Smith said: "I’ll be running with my friend and wing woman, as I call her, Ilona as usual.

"The running helps keep me going and this will be the third time in the Conwy Half."

Mr Smith wasn't fazed by the potential bad weather conditions, having said: "We had some poor weather last year, but skin is waterproof and I don’t mind.

"It’s the wind that’s the killer, especially around the Great Orme."

His fundraising will contribute to the annual match-funding campaign Quality Moments Matter.

The 36-hour event aims to raise £400,000 to help meet the clinical care needs of life-threatened children and provide quality activities such as days out and therapeutic play.

Hope House Children's Hospices provides nursing care and support to more than 750 children and their families in Shropshire, Cheshire, North, and Mid Wales.

They operate two hospices, Hope House in Oswestry and Tŷ Gobaith in Conwy.

It costs the charity £9.6 million annually to run its services, with two months' income coming from statutory sources.

For the remaining 10 months, they rely on public support.

As part of his training, Dennis has been participating in an 874-mile Lands End to John o’Groats virtual run with two friends.

This involves tracking the miles run on home turf using a special app.

Dennis hoped to time it so that by the time he got to the finish line in the Conwy Half, he would have hit this incredible distance.

Supporters can donate to his cause via his Just Giving page.