Michael Beynon, 26, from Chirk, North Wales, and who has Down’s syndrome, is set to make history again as the first Welsh man with Down’s syndrome to run the London Marathon.
Michael will be taking on the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon for the UK’s leading learning disability charity Mencap for the second time after becoming the first Welsh man to run the London Marathon when he completed the virtual race in his hometown last year.
Michael will be running the iconic 26.2 miles route with his girlfriend Ffion Edwards, 33, from Carmarthenshire, who also has a learning disability, along with over 450 Mencap runners including 14 runners with a learning disability. Together, Michael and Ffion will run from east to west London, via the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and The Mall, for Mencap in the same month the charity celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Despite his family being warned by doctors that Michael was likely to need a wheelchair for the rest of his life, Michael, who has Down’s syndrome, a visual impairment and the muscle condition, hypertonia, refuses to let disability stop him in his tracks.
Ffion, inspired by Michael’s virtual London marathon race last year which she joined him for half of last year, will be taking on her first marathon. Michael and Ffion met at the Mencap community café in Ammanford 10 years ago, where she works after being supported to prepare and serve food. The pair have been inseparable ever since.
Every penny raised by Michael and Ffion, and other Mencap runners, will go towards funding Mencap’s life-changing programmes, which aim to tackle stigma and help people with a learning disability lead happy and healthy lives.
Speaking of the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon, Michael Beynon says: “I’m excited to get the chance to run in London this year. I’m excited to see the famous landmarks along the way. This year I’m running with my girlfriend, Ffion, who also has a learning disability. She didn’t use to run before but changed her mind when she saw me take part in the Virtual Marathon last year.”
Michael, who volunteers for Mencap regularly and is supported by Amman Valley Mencap, continues, “I want to give back for all the support I have had. I want to raise as much money as I can for Mencap”.
Speaking of her first London Marathon challenge, Ffion Edwards says, “I decided to run for Mencap because of all the hard work they have done with people with a learning disability. I ran part of the virtual London Marathon with Michael last year because he is my friend and I wanted to help him achieve his dreams. I really enjoyed it, it was fun. I loved seeing all the people supporting us and cheering us on. I like being outside running with my friends and I like winning medals.”
Edel Harris, Chief Executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, says: “We are delighted that Michael and Ffion, along with over 450 other runners, will be taking on the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon to raise vital funds for Mencap’s life-changing programmes. This has been a hugely difficult year for people with a learning disability but with your support we will be able to continue to provide vital services to help people to rebuild their lives after Covid.
“All of our runners will be helping to raise awareness about learning disability and in turn raise vital funds for our programmes, which are needed now more than ever. Join me in supporting Michael and Ffion by cheering them on, on the day, and by donating to their fundraising page. Through your generosity and encouragement, we can continue to support people with a learning disability to lead happy and healthy lives.”
Founded in 1946, Mencap provides the highest quality frontline support to thousands of people with a learning disability, while ensuring that people with a learning disability and their families and carers can get help through the charity’s helpline, online support services and lobbying and influencing work.
During the pandemic, the charity successfully campaigned for people with a learning disability to be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine. The charity continues to campaign for the rights of people with a learning disability as we come out of the pandemic as well as support people in their local community to bring about the changes they want to see to help make a different to their lives
To support Michael and Ffion, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/michaelBeynon1 and https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/FfionEdwards2
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