Family’s marathon efforts in memory of a loved one will create a lasting legacy for nature.

Family’s marathon efforts in memory of a loved one will create a lasting legacy for nature.

Noisy flocks of pink-footed geese are a celebrated sound of autumn © David Tipling/2020VISION

Wildlife Trust supporter Julia Davies is leading a group of family members running the Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of her cousin Lindsay Jones, of Newbridge; whilst pioneering an innovative way to reduce waste from running events.

On October 6, Julia, her sons Morgan and Kai, and Lindsay’s daughter Tasie will run the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds for Gwent Wildlife Trust.

Speaking about her late cousin Lindsay, Julia, who spent some of her childhood in Blackwood and Newbridge said: “We lost Lindsay far too soon. Everyone who knew her will always remember the wonderful times shared with her - so many of which were shared in nature. 
“Camping out the river, striding up the mountain, looking after the birds nesting in her garden, sharing photos of toads - Lindsay's love of wildlife shone through. So we wanted to raise funds in her memory to help Gwent Wildlife Trust to protect and restore Gwent’s amazing wildlife.”
Lindsay’s love of nature is shared by her whole family, including her daughter Tasie, who recently graduated after studying ecology at Reading University. 

The group have set up a Just Giving Page and Julia said they are hoping their Half Marathon efforts in aid of Lindsay will inspire other to support them so they can raise as much funds as possible for Gwent Wildlife Trust to protect and restore wildlife and wild places in Gwent. 
 You can support by giving to their Just Giving page here:
Julia Davies is fundraising for Gwent Wildlife Trust 

Commenting on the family’s amazing fundraiser Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Head of Marketing and Communications Debbie Stenner said:
“We are honoured that Lindsay’s family are supporting our charity in the Cardiff Half Marathon.  All funds raised from their efforts will help us to continue to save and restore wildlife and wild places throughout Gwent, which makes an appropriate and lasting legacy to Lindsay’s love of nature.”

The late Lindsay Jones for use only with Julia Davies fundraising story

Photo credit; Tasie Jones

The late Lindsay Jones

Going one step further: 

The team are doing even more for the environment, with an innovative idea to try and reduce the over-production of running T-shirts and resulting clothing waste and so plastic pollution. Working with Preloved Sports CIC and Gwent Wildlife Trust, they have created reusable patches to pin onto their running gear, which can be transferred to other tees over and over again.

Michael Hill from Preloved Sports CIC explained, “The fabric we used is from polyester event tees that have been donated to us from runners who no longer want them. Each tee is cut down into panels with the offcuts being boxed and ready for cushions so nothing is wasted. This is the end result and we are hoping other charities can get on board with this to prevent waste by repurposing the material that is already in circulation. The names can be reused by the runners for other events and if the charity-branded patches are handed back in at the end of a race, they could potentially be used by other runners, over and over again. It’s been an exciting project and one that will help drive positive change.” 

Julia Davies' running for wildlife fundraiser

Julia Davies