A WOMAN from Dinas Powys took part in a 250 mile charity run across Iceland in support of the charity who helped her colleague as he underwent a life-saving kidney transplant.

Charlotte Bloxham, 22, raised £1800 for Kidney Wales through the Icelandic adventure, and is now planning on taking on the Cardiff 10k for the same charity later this year.

Miss Bloxham found out her co-worker Laurence Weekley was suffering with polycystic kidney disease - an inherited illness - when she began working at the Cardiff based Covert Investigations and Surveillance Ltd.

In November 2015, after managing the disease for a number of years, Mr Weekly was told that he would need dialysis treatment at home three to four times each day, while the search for an organ donor began.

Seeing his struggle, Miss Bloxham decided to take on a 250 mile run across the extreme volcanic landscape of Iceland, to raise funds for the Kidney Wales Foundation - the charity that would support her colleague through his illness.

In April Miss Bloxham and a group of friends set off to Jokulsarlon to begin the trek that would see them race across the south coast of Iceland, rising at 8am and run until 7.30pm every day for four days.

On the fourth day she received the news that a donor had been found for Mr Weekly and he was due to receive a transplant in the morning.

His operation was a success and doctors are confident that he no longer requires dialysis treatment.

Fresh from the success of her Icelandic adventure, Miss Bloxham is pulling on her trainers once again and participating in this year’s Cardiff 10k road race, where she will be fundraising for Kidney Wales running alongside Mr Weekly’s son, Jac - who has yet to discover if he will suffer from the same disease that as afflicted both his father and grandfather.

“I can’t wait to race in my very first Cardiff 10K this September," she said. "Getting the message that Laurence was on his way for a transplant as we reached our last day of the challenge in Iceland was incredible. It made all the pain worthwhile and spurred me on to reach the finish line.

“Seeing Laurence go through so much at the same age as my dad was heart-breaking, and I wanted to do everything I could to help him. I can’t wait to race again later this year and raise even more money for Kidney Wales.”

Roy Thomas, Chief Executive of Kidney Wales said: “I applaud Charlotte and her group for the challenge they took on in Iceland and here at Kidney Wales we are truly grateful for the support they have given us."

Registration for the 2016 Cardiff 10k event is now open. To find out more about the event visit www.cardiff10K.cymru or call 02920 343951.