AN ULTRAMARATHON runner who completed the infamous Death Valley crossing for charity has witnessed how the money he raised has changed livesbeen to Africa to see how his money is changing lives.

Scott Jenkins, of Penarth, finished the gruelling course in the USA this summer alongside his brother Rhys for Operation Smile.

Since then, he has travelled to Ethiopia thanks to his employers Johnson and Johnson, to see for himself what the funds he raised there have done to help the African country's residents.

He witnessed how the money had been used to help children have cleft lip and palettes reconstructed.

Mr Jenkins flew in to Addis Ababa before driving 400 miles to a small village called Mekele where he spent a week observing the practices of a surgical team.

He said: “Ethiopia is a beautiful country and the people there are lovely It was an incredible experience.”

He managed to follow the progress of a mother and her young daughter who had travelled for four days for access to the medical care available.

There was no guarantee that they would be able to get treatment but after two days of screening, the young girl went into theatre for her operation on her cleft lip.

Mr Jenkins was able to assist with certain aspects of the surgery, which proved to be a success which was an amazing opportunity for him.

The operation was a real success and the young girl discharge and the Penarthian said it was an “amazing “quite emotional” at the end of it.

He added: “The mother was so grateful for the treatment.

"People in Ethiopia are not afforded the same opportunities in terms of health care as we are in the west.

“My chance to follow the family’s progress wasn’t planned it just happened by accident but it was really great to witness.”

He went on to say how proud he was of the work of the surgical team, the nurses and the rest of the dedicated team.

Mr Jenkins wishes to continue to raise more awareness of the condition and hopes to continue raising money for the cause.