7 half marathons in just 7 days – and all for a cause close to the hearts of everyone working in Persimmon West Wales

Over the last seven days, aside from their day job Buyer, Cai Owen and Quantity Surveyor Dai Morgan, from the West Wales team have been running 13.5 miles to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

The charity was an obvious choice following news that their Managing Director, Andy Edwards, who has worked for West Wales for 25 years and is retiring this month, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer at the end of last year.

Cai and Dai first decided to set themselves the challenge of completing 7 half marathons in 7 days but when they worked out that was 94.5 miles they decided to raise the bar and make it a 100 mile challenge, doing the extra 5.5 miles on their ‘day off’ on Sunday.

Over the last seven days, they’ve battled the great welsh weather and on Thursday afternoon, with sore feet and very tired legs Cai and Dai completed their challenge - and they did it with the support of the man they were honouring,  Andy, who joined them to cycle the last 13.5 miles.

Cai and Dai were however not alone at any point during this challenge, in fact Architectural Technician,  Alysha Martin who originally had said she was going to join them on a few days ended up completing the full 100 miles. In Dai’s words ‘”She smashed it.”

They were also joined by many other West Wales colleagues, as well as friends and family, who wanted to show their support to both Cai and Dai as well as Andy and all those diagnosed with prostate cancer.

As they finished the 100 mile challenge Cai & Dai said:

“What a week this has been! At times it has been both mentally and physically agonising but we knew we needed to push through and do it for such an important cause and a man we admire so much.

“The support that people have shown us both in terms of joining us on foot or cycling has helped immensely, I don’t think we could have done it without them.

“Also, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated, it really does mean a lot to us and will make a massive difference to Prostate Cancer UK.”

As he joined Cai and Dai for the last 13.5 miles of their challenge, Managing Director for West Wales, Andy Edwards, said:

“I was very humbled and honoured to find out that Dai and Cai had decided to undertaken this epic challenge of running 100 miles over 7 days in aid of Prostate Cancer after hearing of my diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer.

“Especially knowing that Cai was in bits and suffered for weeks after he had participated with West Wales colleagues in the Swansea half marathon only months before and for him to commit to running 7 half marathons every day for 7 days demonstrating a massive strength of commitment and endurance to want to put himself through to show support both to raising awareness and wanted to show his appreciation is as l say is very humbling.

“Dai l was less concerned about as he an Ironman competitor and l have ridden with Dai as part of the Cardiff to Tenby charity bike ride that Persimmon have sponsored for a number of years so l know he is a mentality and physically strong athlete so was less concerned

“I have enormous respect and gratitude for them taking on such a challenge, l have been monitoring their progress this week and face timed them both on Sunday and plan to ride with them on the last leg of 19 miles on Thursday. I just wanted to thank them both and will be so proud of their efforts as they cross the finish line on Thursday.

“Stuart and the fellow directors have organised a farewell retirement do on the Friday night at the Riverside SA1 so I will be able to buy them a well-deserved drink to celebrate their success, l will hold off participating with them until after my radiotherapy which l start on the 12th April at Velindre Cancer Centre.

“I would like to thank Prostate Cancer UK for their very informative online information and fact sheets and also Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch Cardiff for the excellent continued support and care. “

You can still donate to Cai and Dai’s challenge and help raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cai-dai100challenge?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=cai-dai100challenge&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=c83476aeae064cda90b29a0636cf559b.