Famous faces from across Wales will be travelling across the country this summer as part of a 200-mile sponsored walk in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
Lead by Welsh tenor, Rhys Meirion, the third and final Cerddwn Ymlaen (Walk On), takes place from 5 – 12 July. Rhys has raised close to £250,000 over the past two years from the highly successful walks, in which celebrities walk 200 miles across Wales’ most picturesque countryside.
Thousands of well-wishers, supporters and school children are invited to wave and cheer the walkers on as they travel through their communities in Wales.
Those walking the whole distance are TV naturalist Iolo Williams, rugby legend Robin McBryde, X-Factor star Lucie Jones, Welsh comedian Tudur Owen, S4C presenter Gerallt Pennant, singer Sioned Terry, Urdd Eisteddfod director Aled Sion, osteopath John Wilden, farmer Beryl Vaughan, WAA pilot Capt Grant Elgar, GP Dr Dylan Parry, sponsor Vicky Gardner, students Osian Meirion and Dewi Williams, and Elfed Williams whose son was airlifted by WAA.
The walkers will be averaging about 26 miles per day, and the walk will take eight days to complete. Together with the expected heat wave set for July, the trekkers will be pushed to the limits of their physical endurance.
The walk starts from Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay at 8.30am on Saturday 5 July and Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones MP will join them for their first five miles. They will travel steadily through Wales passing through Denbigh, Ruthin, Llangollen, Llanarmon DC, Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes, Rhayader, Builth Wells, Brecon, Merthyr Tudfil, Pontypridd and finally Cardiff.
The walk ends at Cardiff Castle on Saturday 12 July when the team will join the throngs of people enjoying the Tafwyl Festival that is taking place in the castle grounds that day. They will take their final steps by mounting the main stage at the Welsh language festival.
Rhys Meirion is expecting the finale to be a bittersweet moment for him.
“This will be the third Cerddwn Ymlaen for me, and while I will be glad to reach Cardiff on the last day, it will be with the knowledge that I will have completed my last Cerddwn Ymlaen for Wales Air Ambulance.
“These walks have been a major undertaking, involving a huge amount of preparation, but they have been so worthwhile.
“We have raised tens of thousands of pounds for an extremely important service in Wales, which relies on public donations and I am proud that Cerddwn Ymlaen has helped to keep the Wales Air Ambulance helicopters flying.”
He added: “The challenge now is to prepare for this year’s Cerddwn Ymlaen and to let as many people as possible know what we are doing and why we are doing it.
“I have got a team of fantastic people again this year, both walkers and the back-up team and I am really looking forward to spending a week with friends, walking through some of the most beautiful parts of Wales and raising money for a vital and lifesaving service.”
Wales Air Ambulance Chief Executive, Angela Hughes said: “This will be the third magnificent Cerddwn Ymlaen event spanning Wales, and we appreciate the dedication of Rhys and his team. We rely totally on charitable support to continue to save lives and we thank all the walkers for their outstanding effort and determination.”
Walk organisers are hoping to smash last year’s fundraising total of over £150,000, and are appealing for as many people as possible to come out and support the walkers every step of the way.
For details about this year’s Cerddwn Ymlaen / Walk On please visit: www.walk-on.co.uk or www.cerddwnymlaen.com or on www.facebook.com/cerddwnymlaen.walkon
Rhys in training at Eirias Park
