A former captain of Gwernyfed RFC has run a marathon to raise money for a locally-based refugee charity.

Chris O’Brien, known to many as O B, completed the running challenge on Sunday, October 3 for Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees (HBTSR).

Rather than settling for the flat roads of London, the budding runner took on a 30.7-mile route across the local landscape, travelling through some of the beautiful but hilly terrain boasted by the Brecon Beacons. Chris, who is a Senior Policy Officer with the national park, started and ended the run Brecon Cathedral, taking in Torpantau and Pen y Fan with over 1200 metres of ascent and descent. He finished the incredible run in a commendable 5 hours and 49 minutes.

Chris had been training for the challenge by running daily since early January - covering over 1200 miles in his preparation - enough to take him from his home to the tip of North Africa, where many people seeking sanctuary in South Wales come from.

No stranger to a good run or a charitable deed, Chris ran the 2017 Mill Race in Talgarth with an asylum-seeking man. The man was able to visit and take part in the race due to the efforts of HBTSR and Talgarth Mill. Chris made the decision to run with the man as a kind gesture and as a way of making him feel welcome and connected to the community.

The events of the past year made Chris more determined than ever to do what he could to raise the profile of a group seeking to support and help some of the most disadvantaged members of UK society.

“We are so fortunate to live in a beautiful area with kind and generous people, and it seems only right that we should try to help those people forced to flee from their home in fear for their lives,” said Chris.

“I am glad that I have the freedom to work, run and live with my wife Caroline and daughter Deryn. It’s hard to consider that in some countries they would be confined to the home, unable to work or go to school.

“I know that any money I raise for HBTSR will be used to help people seeking sanctuary in South Wales into their new homes and rebuild their lives,” he added.

HBTSR continues to help support people seeking asylum in South Wales by providing money for particular hardships, buying phone top ups and allowing people to maintain contact with families and education by occasional social outings. The charity will also do what they can to support Powys County Council in welcoming the initial group of Afghan families who will make their new homes in the north of the county.

HBTSR continues to highlight concerns about the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons in July. The bill is intended to intended to make Britain’s migration controls more restrictive, with critics warning that the legislation could criminalise Afghan refugees and even break international law. HBSTR is concerned with the bill as it may criminalise people fleeing in fear of their lives and not show the compassionate and hospitable response that most Welsh people would wish.

Chris asks that anyone wanting to support his run make a payment by bank transfer to HBTSR (sort code: 20-39-64, account number: 83085120) or sends a cheque to HBTSR at 1b The Pavement, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5BU. To find out more about HBTSR and the work the volunteers do, visit https://hbtsr.cityofsanctuary.org/ or write to [email protected]