Craig Williams, from Fairwater, is getting on his bike to raise money for a video telemetry unit, at the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff.
Craig will endure a 55-mile ride from Brecon to Cardiff Bay along the Taff Trail. Around 100 cyclists are involved in the journey, which departs from Brecon Theatre from 8.30am on 12 June. The Taff Trail is an off-road trail, running along converted railway tracks, forest tracks and canals.
Craig hopes to cross the finish line at around 2.00pm, with his sons Ross and Bailey, who both have epilepsy. The end of the race will be at the Oval Basin (next to the Millennium Centre), Cardiff. Collection buckets will be circling at the finish line, and further donations can be made through the JustGiving site at www.justgiving.com/teams/tafftrail
Craig Williams said: “We decided to do this event to raise money for a much needed video telemetry unit following my son’s diagnosis. We also wanted to raise awareness of epilepsy, Epilepsy Action Cymru and the local Cardiff Branch. We hope people will come along on the day to support the cause. Cyclists have contacted me from as far as Bristol, and Oxford, to take part in the race. The support has been amazing but I would like to thank A&A Tyres, First Stop and Bridgestone Tyres for the encouragement they have given over the last couple of years. Their generous support and donations inspired me to do this event.”
Bailey, Craig’s son, has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, which is a severe form of epilepsy and affects family life daily. Craig has raised a staggering amount of money since 2009 when his employer at A&A Tyres heard about his son’s diagnosis. They offered to continue paying the running costs for Bailey’s school bus, which was under threat at the time.
Craig has been dedicated to raising funds for the video telemetry unit. So far, £7,000 has been raised from a fundraising gala evening in Fairwater, and First Stop have generously donated £2,500. BMW recently chose the University Hospital of Wales Children’s Video Telemetry Fund to be their charity of the year.
Epilepsy Action is the UK's largest member-led epilepsy organisation. It helps 845,000 people every year through a range of services, including its advice and information centre, branch network and accredited volunteer scheme. The organisation’s award-winning website, www.epilepsy.org.uk, features a live online advice and information service and receives over 75,000 visitors a month. The Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050 is available Monday-Friday, 9.00 am–4.30 pm (4.00 pm on Fridays).
Epilepsy Action’s Cardiff Branch meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Henry’s Bar, 8-16 Park Chambers, Park Place, Cardiff from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. For further information, please contact Ann Sivapatham, Wales manager, on 01633 253 407 (mobile: 07823 558 569) or email asivapatham@epilepsy.org.uk