AN energetic Denbighshire initiative has brilliantly raised more than £100,000 for charity.

Earlier this month, Clwyd West MP Simon Baynes joined organisers of this year's record-breaking Llangollen Round Challenge to present a cheque to Cancer Research UK for £100,723 – the largest single North Wales donation received by the charity this year.

The Llangollen Round Challenge saw more than 500 participants raise money by running and walking a beautiful and scenic 35-mile route around Llangollen.

The challenge has been held every three years since it was founded 10 years ago.

It was inspired by the book ‘Llangollen Round’ by Judy Smith, which was published in 2011, and has since sold over 5,000 copies.

Judy was present at the presentation of the cheque.

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This year’s challenge was in fact held four years after the last one due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has generated Gift Aid of about £15,000 in addition to the figure of £100,723.

During the visit, Mr Baynes joined Cancer Research UK's North Wales relationship manager Nadine Isaacs and Llangollen Round Challenge organisers Sandra Woodhall, Judy Smith and Jason Morley, where he congratulated the group on their “fantastic achievement”.

Mr Baynes said: “This is a fantastic achievement by the organisers of the Llangollen Round Challenge and everyone who participated in the 35-mile run and walk around the town.

"About 100 volunteers supported the challenge, including cake bakers, marshals and local businesses, who donated free-of-charge virtually all of the food and water provided to participants during the round challenge.

"Cancer Research UK is an incredibly worthy cause, and I know this amazing sum of £100,723 will go towards funding vital work in the battle to increase the cancer survival rate.

"This brings the total raised over the last ten years by the Llangollen Round Challenge to a fantastic figure of £259,000.”