A retired Pembrokeshire farmer is lacing up his trainers for one of the world’s most iconic marathons, inspired by his family and driven by a cause close to his heart.

On March 22, Steve Ford, 68, will take on the Rome Marathon when he will be running alongside his daughter and son-in-law in what has become a remarkable family endeavour.

Since beginning his training in May 2025, Steve has clocked an extraordinary amount of miles for a first-time marathon runner.  He has covered a staggering 726 miles and has logged no fewer than 130 hours of running.  This includes 34,524 feet of elevation which is more than the height of Mount Everest.

Now, with less than three weeks to go, Steve has just completed one of his longest training runs to date.

He is running in aid of Parkinson’s UK, which is a cause close to his family’s heart, having been personally touched by the condition. To date, he has raised over £4,100, and his family are immensely proud of everything he has achieved.

Parkinson’s is a complex, progressive brain condition affecting more than 153,000 people in the UK. With over 40 symptoms, ranging from tremor and pain to anxiety and depression, and no cure, the need for research and support has never been greater. Someone in the UK is diagnosed every 20 minutes, and by 2050, the number of people living with Parkinson’s worldwide is expected to double to 25 million. Parkinson’s UK funds vital research into new treatments and provides life-changing support services for those affected.

To support Steve and donate to Parkinson’s UK, visit: https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/fundraisers/stephenford/overseas-runs-2026

A NEW seaweed extract could have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, according to scientists testing it as part of efforts to improve the nation’s health. 

Sourced from seaweed sustainably harvested in the UK, it could offer a new natural remedy for gut health ailments. Seaweed is considered to be a “superfood”, due to its high fibre, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. 

Long recognised in Asia for its therapeutic potential, the seaweed extract fucoidan is now attracting growing interest elsewhere in the world as demand rises for natural compounds with proven health benefits. 

The 12-month INNOSea study focused on producing and trialling a purified extract of fucoidan, marketed as Thalivra, which showed promising effects on digestive health and overall wellbeing. 

The first 28-day clinical trial suggested improvements in the mental wellbeing of young adults. The results pave the way for larger-scale testing. 

Scientists at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Life Sciences, alongside researchers at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and seaweed ingredient technology company BioMara, developed and conducted the work. 

Dr Jessica Adams, a seaweed expert from IBERS at Aberystwyth University, said: “Many people will have heard of the health and dietary benefits of seaweed – these tests add to that evidence. From a processing and bioactivity standpoint, the data from our study is striking. Achieving food-grade fucoidan at scale with such a potent anti-inflammatory profile is a real breakthrough. It opens the door for Thalivra to be positioned not just as a safe ingredient, but as one with genuine functional potential in gut health and immune-support formulations.” 

The human trial was led by Dr Amanda J Lloyd and Dr Alina Warren-Walker from the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University. Dr Lloyd added: “This was the first time BioMara’s seaweed extract has been tested in humans, and the results are very encouraging. Participants tolerated the supplement extremely well, and we observed early trends in mental wellbeing that deserve further study. Importantly, the strong safety and retention profile gives us confidence to scale up into larger and different groups, and for longer trial periods.” 

The project was funded by Innovate UK and BBSRC as part of a £2.5 million investment in 13 projects to drive the design and development of innovative food and beverage products. 

Jay Dignan, Founder and CEO of BioMara, said:  “Completing INNOSea marks a turning point. We’ve proven that Thalivra can be produced at scale, is safe for daily use, and shows compelling anti-inflammatory and wellbeing trends. This lays the foundation for larger clinical trials and, ultimately, commercial partnerships to bring Thalivra into gut health and immune-support formulations in a fast-growing global market.” 

Thalivra fucoidan is harvested in Scottish waters and processed into a powder using BioMara’s unique method. It is approved for use as a novel food. 

Pharmaceutical firm Norgine to grow Hengoed facility as government promotes global trade push

A £23 MILLION investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing in South Wales is set to create 44 new jobs and expand production of essential medicines.

The investment will see European pharmaceutical company Norgine increase warehousing and production capacity at its manufacturing facility in Hengoed, Caerphilly.

The expansion was announced on Thursday (Mar 5) by Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens, who visited the site to mark the development.

The project has been supported by the UK Government’s Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), part of a wider strategy to strengthen the UK’s health sector and domestic medicine supply.

The £520 million fund aims to attract innovative pharmaceutical manufacturing projects and improve the resilience of medicine supply chains across the UK.

The Welsh life sciences sector continues to grow rapidly. Latest figures show it generated more than £3.5 billion in turnover and supported over 13,000 jobs across more than 280 companies in 2023/24.

The Hengoed facility forms part of a South Wales life sciences cluster identified in the UK Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan as an area of particular strength.

International investment push

The announcement also coincided with the launch of a new programme designed to promote Welsh trade and investment internationally.

At the Wales Office St David’s Day reception held at Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Jo Stevens confirmed the government will begin a series of overseas initiatives aimed at attracting further international investment into Wales.

The programme will include targeted trade missions to key markets, closer collaboration with the Welsh Government and local partners, and a new fund allowing UK embassies and overseas offices to specifically promote investment opportunities in Wales.

Minister welcomes expansion

The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said: “We have a thriving life sciences sector in Wales, and this investment from Norgine is a vote of confidence in our Welsh workforce.

“I am delighted that UK Government funding is supporting the business to continue to grow and create new well-paid jobs.

“Norgine is a brilliant example of an international business that is flourishing in Wales. With our new international programme we are going to build on successes like this to attract even more investment that will create opportunities across the country.”

Company highlights Welsh roots

Janneke van der Kamp, Chief Executive Officer of Norgine, said the investment marked an important milestone for the company and its Welsh operations.

“We have a proud 60-year manufacturing heritage in Wales, and this investment will strengthen our ability to reliably supply essential medicines while creating high-quality jobs for the future,” she said.

“We are deeply committed to Wales, not only through our manufacturing footprint but also through developing local talent in partnership with Cardiff University and regional colleges.”

The UK Government said Wales continues to attract strong levels of international investment, accounting for nearly five percent of all inward investment projects across the UK, creating more than 2,000 jobs in 2024/25 alone.