Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club member Geoff Walsh and his wife Karen competed in their first distance race, when they ran the Cardiff 10k on Sunday 8th September.

Having cheered on their daughter and son-in-law at last year's British 10k in London, the couple decided that they would give the distance a go to raise much needed funds for PWSA (UK), the charity that supports people like their granddaughter Amelie.

Amelie suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome. She is a beautiful, happy little girl, who in photos looks no different to any other child.

However, as with all children with PWS, she will need constant care and attention for the rest of her life. She has daily injections of growth hormone and regular intensive physiotherapy to stimulate muscle growth but physical development is slow.

As she gets older she will struggle with emotional, cognitive, behavioural and social issues. She will also develop an untreatable, insatiable appetite resulting in almost constant feelings of hunger.

Strict dietary control is necessary to avoid life-threatening complications.

There is currently no cure for PWS although ongoing research offers hope for the development of more effective treatments and perhaps an eventual cure.

PWSA UK exists to improve the lives of all people with PWS and all who are affected or work with them.

Geoff and Karen completed the race in one hour, eight minutes and said afterwards that for first-time oldies they were very pleased to have survived let alone achieved a reasonable time.

They have already raised in excess of £2,500 for PWSA (UK) via their Virgin Money Giving web page virginmoneygiving.com/Geoffand

KarenWalsh

All their children and four grandchildren were in Cardiff to cheer them on and it has encouraged a number of the younger generation to consider taking up the challenge next year.