Alfie is my son, and he attends Park Lane Special School in Aberdare. Alfie is autistic, non-speaking, and faces a number of additional challenges. Like many families of children with additional needs, finding the right environment is everything — and for us, Park Lane has been exactly that.

Park Lane Special School is an incredible school where children are supported throughout their entire educational journey. It is a place where every child is understood, encouraged, and given the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. The staff go above and beyond every single day, creating not only a safe and nurturing environment for the children, but also invaluable support for parents and carers. It has a genuine community feel — a place where families feel seen, supported, and never alone.

To give something back to this amazing school, I will be taking on one of the toughest challenges of my life: the Beacons Way Ultra 100K organised by GB Ultras.

This is a 100km ultramarathon across the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, starting in Llangynidr and finishing in Llangadog. The route follows the rugged and exposed Beacons Way, taking runners over some of the most challenging terrain in Wales. It includes around 3,400 metres of elevation gain — the equivalent of climbing well over a third of the height of Mount Everest — across mountains, ridges, rocky trails and remote moorland.

The race begins at 12:00pm on Saturday afternoon. From that moment, the clock does not stop. I will have 24 hours to finish, running through the afternoon, into the darkness of the night, and through to the final 12:00pm cut-off on Sunday. It will be a huge physical and mental challenge — but nothing compared to the determination shown every day by children like Alfie and the families who support them.

I’m taking on this challenge to raise money for Park Lane Special School so that they can continue providing the opportunities, support, and sense of belonging that mean so much to children like Alfie and to families like ours.

If you are able to donate, no matter how small, it would mean the world to us. Every pound will help support an extraordinary school that makes an extraordinary difference every single day.