News

Dan’s incredible challenge gets people talking

Published

9 years ago

January 29, 2016

November Challenge: With friends Matthew Evan and Jason Jones

CAREW’s Dan Mumford set himself a challenge at the start of 2015: to run 2015 miles in the year.

At nearly 39 miles a week or an average of 5.5 miles a day, it was going to be a serious test, but Dan had a great inspiration for trying to achieve this incredible feat, raising money for a cause close to his heart. Dan was raising money for Mind Pembrokeshire after suffering with depression for a number of years. He has found running to be of great assistance in helping him to regain control in his life, but he also wanted to do something that he felt could help others in the same situation: “Something had to be done to get people talking, to help others like me who couldn’t talk about it, to make people aware that they do not need to settle for poor mental health, to show people that they can achieve great things and to raise awareness of the help that is out there.”

A target was set to raise £1200 for Mind Pembrokeshire to help train a member of staff to become a Mindfulness Practitioner, at the end of the challenge just over £3000 and counting has been raised which will pay for all the staff to receive the training, which will benefit everyone who attends in the future. Dan is very open about his own battle with depression, saying: “It all began years back when I slipped deeper and deeper into depression. “Despite being a Gym Instructor and also a PTI in the Territorial Army, I stopped exercising. I struggled to socialise, my weight increased and my marriage was struggling under the pressure. “The emptiness of the depression left me feeling nothing, well apart from the worthlessness that I felt. I was suffering but felt too ashamed to discuss it, I felt that no one would understand and it got worse. “I started on medication, which numbed me further, I struggled with Neuralgia and other conditions which made the problem worse. I ended up on the sick for months.”

But then the breakthrough came when a good friend suggested he should go out running with him: “I hadn’t run for years, but I always loved running. Running used to make me feel relaxed and the benefits of running were almost instant. I could feel something, even if that something was pain and discomfort. “I kept going, with a fair bit of help and persuasion from my wife and a good friend. Slowly, things just seemed to get a bit easier. I returned to work, lost weight and the pain started to drop off.

“That was three and a half years ago and here I am recapping my 2015 challenge.” But how did Dan go from running to ease his depression, to raising thousands of pounds and completing a remarkable challenge? “I contacted my local Mental Health Charity, Mind Pembrokeshire. We discussed my challenge and what I aimed to do. The funds raised would go to pay for the whole team to be trained as ‘Mindfulness Practitioners’. “Mumford & Runs was born, I laced up my trainers and off I went. I signed up to a few races including the Born to Run 40 mile Ultra.”

“I had to run long in training. Running 30 milers on your own is tough, so I organised a tag-a-long run. We would run from Tenby to Mind Pembrokeshire in Haverfordwest and people could join in where they wanted. Around 30 people joined me that day, most of them had a story to tell, and they felt safe to talk with me, as I was so open with them. The miles flew by and we soon arrived at Mind to a warm welcome and cake!” When the day arrived for the 40-mile Ultra, Dan was inundated with messages of support on social media and through his dedicated page ‘Mumford and Runs’.

He flew through the marathon point with a personal best time, and he kept on going well, finishing in 4th with a time of 5hours 28mins, which set the tone for the year to come. Dan entered numerous races over the course of the year, including the Manchester Marathon, Swansea Half, Tenby10k, Wales Marathon, Ealing Half & Cardiff Half. He worked extremely hard to get ready for every race, and wanted to go faster every time, which he achieved. Although he ran in all these high profile events, Dan’s favourite event was one that was dubbed ‘Mumford’s Mile’ and was ran alongside The Autism Centre at Pembroke School: “We arranged a sponsored 1 mile run, as running helps to calm and keep the youngsters active. We set off on the route, some running, some walking, but everyone had a smile on their face, and this is what it is all about!”

Continuing with the community events, Dan helped set up the Carew Running Club which aimed to get people of the community get out running and the club has helped numerous people to achieve their own personal goals, with many people who have never ran before having taken part in 10k and half marathon events in the last year. However a year of non-stop running, as you may expect didn’t always go according to plan. The challenge had it’s pressures and this pressure at times affected his mental health, as he struggled to fit in his weekly miles and missed out on time with the family.

“Racing took it out of me and left me unable to run for days. I suffered a couple of injuries and illness too. The challenge was almost out of reach at the end of October, meaning I’d have to run 9 miles a day every day until New Year’s Eve. I had to do something and this is when I decided to do the November Challenge. “This was to run an extra mile every day in November. If I completed this it would bring me right back on track, but it would be tough. There was no guarantee I could finish it and I didn’t! “On day 23 the weather was awful, I ran in the morning outside covering about 12 miles of the 23 I had to cover that day before heading to the gym to finish off the remaining 11 miles on the Treadmill. I was feeling good until the arch on my right foot started playing up. I thought it was going to tear. I dropped the pace and nursed it to the end.

“On day 24 I got up out of bed, my foot throbbing from the 140 miles I had ran in the last 7 days, double what I’d ever done before. I couldn’t risk carrying on, and with my 2015- mile challenge under threat. I pulled out.” He did however recover in time to complete his challenge, with his children joining him on their bikes to help him get through the final miles; his daughter even dragged him out on Christmas day! “Boxing Day I went out on my tod and quietly crossed the finish line of my personal challenge. It was meant to be the following day at Carew Fun Run but I thought to myself, this is about “Doing more, talking more and Going the extra mile.” So that is what Dan did.

Over 130 people gathered at the Carew Sports Club for the Annual Charity Fun Run to support Dan and run the extra mile together. So Dan completed his remarkable challenge with 5 days to spare, and in the end ended up running 2020 miles in the year, but he couldn’t have done it without some key people and organisations: “It has been a journey that has created a bit of a buzz, started some conversations, raised awareness of our great local charity and raised a good sum of money too. I owe great thanks to everyone who has supported me all year long, especially those who fundraised under Team Mumford & Runs, WP Lewis and Son who sponsored my travel, Feel Good Inc. for collecting and doing the ‘Bungee off the Bridge’, Tees R Us for kit, Carew Club for all of the fundraising and Pembrokeshire Leisure for collecting and donating prizes.

“The biggest thanks has to go to my wife and children who continue to support me every day and put up with my coping mechanisms.” If you would like to donate to Dan’s cause you can online at http://www.everyclick.com/mumfordruns. For more information on Mind Pembrokeshire you can go to http://www.mindpembrokeshire.org.uk . You can also follow Dan’s new blog at www.mindrunner. co.uk or on Facebook or Twitter at either ‘Mumford and Runs’ or ‘Mindrunner’.

Charity

Welsh teen wins photography competition with ‘perfect puffin pic’

Published

9 mins ago

December 19, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A STRIKING image of a puffin on Skomer Island in west Wales has been hailed the winner of this year’s prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards – a year which saw the charity mark its historic 200th anniversary.

The winning entry was from Anwen Whitehead, 15, from Cnwch Coch in Aberystwyth, and announced at a ceremony at the Tower of London held today (Thursday 19 December) – a special and historic event which also celebrates the RSPCA’s milestone anniversary.

Every year, the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards invites young people aged 18 years and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or a mobile device. This supports the RSPCA’s mission of inspiring everyone to create a better world for every animal.

The judges praised the emotion and composition of Anwen’s Puffin photograph ‘Daydreaming in the Chamomiles’, marvelling at how tough it is to photograph puffins and remarking on the beautiful, diffused background.

Winner Anwen from West Wales said: “It’s very surreal and amazing to have won. I think this will really encourage me to keep going and push to make this a career. I was amazed at being shortlisted as a finalist so to win makes me determined to keep going and keep improving. I’ve won a few local competitions but nothing on this scale!”

Having only started taking photographs as a serious hobby last year, Anwen explained that the puffin photo which was snapped on a long anticipated visit to Pembrokeshire’s famous Skomer Island was one of her favourite photographs.

Anwen explained that she can quite happily spend 10 hours in a bird hide, or out in a field in camouflage gear at sunrise to get the perfect photo.

She said: “That’s my happy place. It’s very relaxing to be out in nature and away from screens. It allows me to slow down a little bit. It can take a long time but it’s always worth it in the end and the buzz afterwards lasts all day or all week!

“I’ve always had a love of animals. We live in rural Wales so I’m surrounded by animals and nature. I think it’s really important to try and help protect nature through photography by showing both the magic and the fragility of nature to help make people realise how special nature really is. I see wildlife photography as a tool for conservation by helping to spread the word.”

Remarkably, a number of photos submitted by Anwen were recognised this year. As well as being overall winner, Anwen’s puffin photo also won the 12-15 category; while her red squirrel image ‘Sergeant Squirrel reporting for duty’ was commended in the same category. Another red squirrel image ‘Peckish’ was commended in the 12-15 mobile category and her swallows image placed runner-up in the City Life section. Finally, her ‘Puffin Paradise’ collection came runner-up in the Portfolio category meaning Anwen had a whopping seven images shortlisted in the final.

All entries are judged entirely anonymously, and separately from one another, which makes Anwen’s multiple successes this year even more staggering.

To mark the charity’s 200th birthday, the RSPCA added two new categories – ‘Better World’ which imagines what a better world for animals looks like, and ‘City Life’ – which highlights how animals are all around us and shows how we can live harmoniously together.

Chris Packham, TV presenter, RSPCA President and supporter of the awards since its inception over 30 years ago, said: “As ever, this is a wonderful portfolio of work. This competition always attracts very strong entries and my special congratulations goes to all the winners and of course, especially, to the overall winner.”

Chris, who couldn’t attend the ceremony in person but recorded a special video message for the winners, added: “Photography is a great way of communicating your love for, your passion for, your fascination for, and your concern for animals. I think it’s really important that we use that as a tool at this particular time when a lot of animals are in trouble. Being able to use your imagination, creativity and ingenuity to come up with something personally unique and powerful is a very important tool.”

This year’s awards were judged by a panel of photography experts, including wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby; former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt; professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie; and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs. And for the first time this year – Fabian Rivers, known as the ‘Dready Vet’, an exotic animal and wildlife vet and RSPCA ambassador who appears on CBBC’s The Pets Factor.

Fabian said: “It’s a great honour to be involved in the inspiring RSPCA Young Photographer Awards this year. The calibre of entries has been staggering. Anwen’s puffin image is technically great, it’s sharp and evokes such lovely emotions. There’s a real story behind it and it was a clear winner for me.”

Other prize winners included last year’s talented overall winner Jamie Smart, aged nine, from Powys, Mid Wales, who won Pet Portraits with an image of her cat titled ‘Not Impressed’, and ‘Ready for Bed’ which features an owl won the Better World category, followed by her kingfisher image ‘City Fisher’ which won City Life. She also secured the top spot in the Under 12s category with ‘Rise of the Gannet’, and placed runner-up or commended with a further four images.

Other winners included;

Austin Lake, 13, from Devon, won Pet Personalities with his black and white photo of his cat,
Chris Wardell, 18, from Wiltshire, won Small World with his silhouetted spider, and the Portfolio category with a selection of back-lit fox photos,
Arlo Rautenbach, age 10 from Cornwall, won the Under 12 category with his photo of a slow worm,
Nathaniel Gingell, age 14 from Hampshire, won the 12-15 mobile category with a photo of a group of dogs,
Daisy Pipe, age 16 from Dorset, won the 16-18 mobile category with her tomato wasp image,
Anton Poon, 17, from Buckinghamshire, won the 16-18 category with an image of a robin

Sponsors of the competition are Natures Images (wildlife photography holidays) and Camtraptions (camera traps for wildlife photography). Winners in each category were awarded trophies and a selection of prizes at the Tower of London ceremony and as the Overall Winner, Anwen Whitehead received a weekend photography break with Natures Images. This fabulous prize- the Deer Rut Special – includes two nights’ accommodation for the winner and a parent/guardian.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2025 opens for entries on 6 May.

The full gallery of all the winning images can be viewed here.

Community

Castle Ward Pupils Lead Anti-Social Behaviour Art Mural Project

Published

14 mins ago

December 19, 2024

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST HIGH VC SCHOOL welcomed a visit from County Councillor Thomas Tudor, who expressed his full support for the pupils’ efforts in tackling anti-social behaviour through an innovative Art Mural Project.

Councillor Tudor, representing the Castle Ward, highlighted the significance of the project, noting the area’s past struggles with anti-social behaviour in central commercial zones. “Engaging with pupils to address this issue through art is an extremely exciting venture,” he said.

The project has received a boost with £750 in funding secured from the Youth Bank initiative. Councillor Tudor commended the Youth Workers for their successful funding application, describing it as “a great achievement.”

The mural, spearheaded by pupils from the Youth Room and Haverfordwest High VC School, aims to inspire and engage the community while addressing a vital issue. “This exciting and innovative project will undoubtedly capture the imagination of those involved and reach out to all concerned,” Councillor Tudor added.

The initiative is set to bring a creative approach to community engagement and highlight the power of art in fostering positive change.

Photo caption: Castle Ward inspiration: Councillor Thomas Tudor supports the Art Mural Project (Pic: Suppled)

Education

Home Education: Delays and missed opportunities risk further tragedy

Published

19 mins ago

December 19, 2024

Jon Coles

THE TOPIC of Home Education has again hit the headlines.

The brutal murder of Sara Sharif in London exposes the glaring gaps in child protection for home-educated children over those in mainstream education, says the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council in a detailed proposal on tackling safeguarding concerns and a call for the Welsh Government to act.

The Group’s statement is below.

No one denies that parents have the choice of home education. However, this shouldn’t be allowed if the risk to children is increased by a lack of a register by Local Authorities that confirms how many children are receiving home education, where they are receiving it, and from whom. The rights of the child should always be a priority, but the legislation surrounding home education is not strong enough to support this.

Pleas to the Welsh Government from local authorities across Wales to create and maintain a register of home-schooled children have fallen on deaf ears.

COUNCILLORS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL SAFEGUARDING DUTY

Pembrokeshire has had its share of tragic outcomes regarding home education, and Councillors and employees of the authority have continually raised concerns about the matter. However, a time has now arrived when we as a society must demand action, as failure to do so will almost certainly see such tragedies reoccur. Society needs to accept that this is not Big Brother but our fundamental duty to protect its most vulnerable, namely our Children.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, said it was “madness” that the law currently allows parents to take a child out of school, even if concerns had already been raised”.

She added, “Being in school is a safeguard; they are safer under the eyes of teachers.”

We must act. The Prime Minister himself has said that his government will deliver “stronger safeguards” for those educated at home, and the need to act is immediate. And act they have done, making it clear they intend to bring forward legislation (for England) a “landmark” bill where home-schooled children will have to be registered with their local authority.

Wales has procrastinated for far too long and must follow suit and do so without delay.

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNCILLORS’ CONCERNS IGNORED

In Pembrokeshire, the lack of a formal register has been raised on numerous occasions over many years, including on a number of occasions since the last County Council elections in 2022. The Social Care O&S Committee under the Chair of Councillor Dave Bryan on November 10, 2022, heard The Head of Children Services comment that the Council was then “into their third administration of WG where concerns of EHE has not been acted upon following Kirsty Williams’s announcement to shelve the plans.”

A letter sent by Councillor Bryan on this matter drew a negative response from the Welsh Government.

Cllr Phil Kidney and Cllr Huw Murphy raised the matter at Full Council on December 12. The latter commented that action is needed on this matter, as words alone will not suffice, and that he would be failing in his role as Safeguarding Champion if he did not speak out. Politics is about doing right, not being popular.

INCREASED HOME EDUCATION INCREASES RISK

In 2020, there were 210 children in EHE in Pembrokeshire. By early 2023, that number was 325. By Sept 2024, it stood at 463.

Increased numbers equate to increased risk.

Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire have the highest rates of children in EHE across Wales. The Education Act 1996 does not have the framework to allow local authorities to speak to home-schooled children or even see them if parents refuse. Home education works well in most cases, but sadly, not always. The invisibility of these children causes so much concern, as by the time they are seen, it is too late for some.

A CHANGE IN THE LAW

The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 2 of the Convention directs that “the state shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinion or beliefs of the child’s parents.”

Article 28 (b) stipulates that governments must make “primary education compulsory & available free for all”, and 28 (e) says governments must “take measures to encourage attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.”

It could be argued that for Wales and the UK to be more compliant with the UNCRC, the Education Act, 1996 should be amended to confirm the rights of parents to home-educate their children but within a legal setting where every local authority holds a register of every child receiving home education, that every child is seen and spoken to every term and a sample of their work is seen to evidence that they are being educated to a level that will provide them with the necessary tools and skills to succeed on attaining adulthood.

Society gets only one chance to get things right for every child born into it. For too long, the issue of not setting up a formal register for home-educated children has been, at best, overlooked and, at worst, ignored when the majority support the measure. By doing so, PCC concerns for Child safety will be identified earlier, and tragic outcomes will be reduced.