Around Wales, Around the Clock

Nine friends have set themselves a challenge to run "around the clock, around the perimeter of Wales" in just four days via a non-stop relay starting and finishing at Cardiff Bay (5 - 9 April, midday start).

The group will run continuously for 24 hours a day with each of the group running one hour every eight, which should equate to every member running approximately 93 miles over the five days to complete the 750-mile total. The runners will be split into pods of three to ease rotation of runners.

The group consists of Scott Jenkins, Rhys Jenkins, Bryn Adams, David Lerway, Dom Hedges, Eli Carter, Michael Rabaiotti, Rhys Allen, Rhys Bennett, Sammy Alderman, and all supported by Scott and Rhys’s dad, Terry Jenkins!

Dubbed the Around The Clock, Around Wales run, the challenge is designed to raise money and awareness for Ashgrove School and the Noah’s Ark appeal.

Rhys and Scott Jenkins completed a 2000-mile run across America from Boston to Austin for charity in 2010 and since then, the brothers have been keen to continue raising funds for worthwhile charities whilst pushing their bodies to the limit. Rhys came up with the idea of the fundraiser and soon had the support of his brother and friends who decided to join him.

"It’s a non-stop run around Wales, 24 hours a day over four days,” says Eli Carter, the only girl of the group. “It’s a great challenge and some of the guys completed it last year, so I’m keen to show them that girls are tough too!”

"We are all good friends from Penarth, where we’re all from, so hopefully we can keep each other’s spirits high when we are each putting in the night shifts.

"We’re raising money for two charities as they are all important to all of us taking part and we’d love to raise £1,000 for each,” adds Rhys Jenkins.

The group set off today (5 April) from the Goleulong 2000 Lightship behind the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, where they will also finish on Monday 9 April and where they will stay to collect money.

Once this run is completed, the brothers are not set to rest but go straight back into their endurance training for their next challenge.

“The only way we feel we can really challenge ourselves and give back is through sport, so we have focused on setting ourselves ultra-endurance events that have never been done,” says Scott Jenkins.

Their next event is the 1000TT that will see both Scott and Rhys, along with two friends, Kris Lindsay from Edinburgh and David Thomas from Penarth, cycle from Turin, Italy to Tiger Bay, Cardiff (1,100 miles in just 10 days). The challenge will see each cyclist cycle the complete 1,100 miles and tackle four of the steepest inclines from the tour de France.

The cycle was created by Scott in memory of his girlfriend’s grandmother, Mavis Millar, who sadly lost her battle with cancer in December.

“I told Nana Moon that my next challenge would be in her memory and from that moment I was trying to think of something different that hadn’t been done. Something that would make people aware of the great work of the MacMillan Nurses and the Alexandra Unit that both cared for Mavis. None of us are hardcore road cyclists apart from Kris, so it really is a challenge that will push us the limit, which is what I wanted,” he explains.

They are due to embark on the 1000TT challenge from 3 June and finish in Tiger Bay on 12 June all going to plan. The route will take in the Olympic sites and when on home soil, the cyclists are happy for others to join them and help them on their way to the finish line and completing the mammoth challenge that the 1000TT has set them.

The boys will be providing updates on Facebook and their progress will be documented throughout the weekend's eventn. Information on how to donate can be found here.

For more information or to support the group and make a donation for the 1000TT, please visit the event website and follow on twitter @1000TT.