Runner Rhys returns to Penarth after Scotland-to-Wales run raises £1,000 for Luca's charity (From Penarth Times)

Runner Rhys returns to Penarth after Scotland-to-Wales run raises £1,000 for Luca's charity

8:50am Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Chris Seal

PENARTH runner Rhys Jenkins has thanked everyone for their sponsorship, after raising more than £1,000 from his epic run from Edinburgh to Cardiff.

Rhys ran a total of 470 miles over eight days, running an average of 12 hours a day, in aid of the 'For Luca' campaign.

The charity is raising money to buy prosthetic legs for three-year-old Luca Williams, who was struck down with Meningococcal Septicaemia and had to have his lower limbs amputated in January.

And Luca was there to welcome Rhys home as he finished his run in Cardiff Bay on Saturday (September 8).

"I was surprised by Luca and it was quite emotional seeing him," said Rhys.

"It was nice that my friends and family were there too to welcome me home."

Rhys had planned to run from John O'Groats to Land's End, but had to change his plans at the last minute after flooding in Scotland made some of the roads impassable.

"It didn't make sense to run from John O'Groats as the route I wanted to take was impassable, and to go around it would have been a ridiculous number of miles," he said.

Rhys, who has previously run 2000 miles across America and cycled from Italy to Cardiff as part of the 1000TT challenge, added: "It was very hard - the toughest run I have done.

"But it was nice to run in Britain for once rather than America or Europe."

Rhys, 24, suffered with blisters, a swollen achilles, shin splints and knee pain as he covered the equivalent of nearly two and a half marathons a day.

And he thanked everyone for their sponsorship, including a total stranger who donated £500.

"When I saw that donation I was lost for words," he said.

"I kept looking at it to make sure it wasn't a mistake.

"For someone to donate £500 is unbelievable, especially when I don't know them.

"I would like to say a massive thank you to that lady, and to all my family and friends and people in work who have sponsored me and supported me."

To sponsor Rhys for his run go to: www.justgiving.com/UKRunForLuca

* Rhys thanked the Pro Health Shop in Penarth for their support.