A woman from Llanwrtyd Wells is set to travel more than 8,000 miles this year to take part in a trek for charity.

Sarah Jones will depart for Patagonia, a region encompassing the southernmost tip of South America, on November 18. From there she will trek for five days along the Chubnut River and the Los Rifleros track to Cwm Hyfryd, against the backdrop of the Andes mountain range.

Sarah, who is a Welsh speaker herself, will visit the area where the first Welsh settlers arrived over 150 years ago. Patagonian Welsh has developed to be a distinct dialect of Welsh, yet speakers from Wales and Patagonia are able to communicate readily.

Sarah will be undertaking the challenge in aid of the Marie Curie charity.

“I will also visit Trevelin and the school in Esquel, and the Welsh speaking community, which I’m particularly looking forward to, being a Welsh speaker myself,” explained Sarah.

Part of the requirement to be able to go on this once-in-a-lifetime trip is that Sarah fundraises for the charity. Over the last year she has organised events and also created a calendar for sale.

On July 16, Sarah will be walking from Brecon to Cwmbran along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Sarah will be waking up early to walk the 33-mile route in just one day.

“At last I’ll get a chance to visit the area at the same time raise money for a well-deserving charity that gives so much support to people in our community,” added Sarah. “Anyone who would like to support my fundraising can visit my JustGiving page.”

Sarah’s page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarah-jones2021