AS WE celebrate International Women's Day today (March 8), we are highlighting some of our area's most influential female figures.

'IWD' is celebrated annually as a focal point in the women's rights movement and it gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

Among some of the most inspiring women from our local area is Helen Ryvar.

Last year, she broke a Guinness World Record by achieving 500 consecutive half-marathons to raise money for the MIND charity in memory of her ex-husband who died in 2020.

Helen, from Llay, began running and walking short distances every day and in February this year she embarked on a challenge to run a half marathon every single day.

In September of last year, as she started her final trek from The Crown pub in Llay, Helen was far from alone as supporters from the area came to join her in her final run before the well-deserved celebrations commenced. 

This week, Helen has spoken to the Power of Running campaign about her love of running.

Helen is also in the process of currently beating her own Guinness World Record, having recently ran her 670th half marathon in a row, and is on her way to her 1,000 target and new record she has set for January 25, 2025.

Helen said: ": “It’s a little ambitious, it’s not easy by any means. I’m a normal human, now a single parent to three teenage kids. I run my own cleaning business and work full time. I fit these runs in around all of this by running 4:15am - 6:30am weekdays."

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She added: "Running has saved me from self-destruction, I’ve built a community, and I’ve raised money for various charities important to me, including Mind, Cancer Research UK, and Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham.

"I have posted every single run to Facebook, Instagram, and Strava since Day 1, and I’ll continue to do so until I hit my 1,000 milestone, and I’d love to encourage people to get into running as it’s helped me so much.

“Taking part in the Great Run series events will help massively, with motivation, with community and being a part of something bigger, as well as encouraging others to join me. I can’t wait to join the other runners this May in Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol.

“The Power of Running has given me connection with my local community, and local run clubs. It’s even connected me with famous people. It’s helped keep me fit and healthy and able to do things I never thought possible in the past like run races, get PB’s and even run 50–75-mile ultra races. Running makes me feel great about myself, it helps keep me in a routine and fit and healthy.”

Helen will be running all the Great Run series half marathons this year – joining the AJ Bell: Great Birmingham Run, Great Bristol Run, Great Manchester Run, Great North Run, and Great Scottish Run.