A MUM who has carried out a parkrun every Saturday for a year in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance has almost reached her finish line.

Sally Smith, 43, has raised an incredible £11,000 for the charity. She will do her last run on Saturday, August 29.

Sally, of Ruthin, set the challenge for herself following an accident in June 2019 on the B5105 between Efenechtyd and Ruthin.

Olivia Alkir, from the Efenechtyd area, died in the crash. Mia Roberts and Sophie Davies were also involved and needed life-saving surgery for their internal injuries.

They were both in Stoke’s critical care unit in under 30 minutes, thanks to the Wales Air Ambulance.

Sally, who has son Kieran, who is friends with both Mia and Sophie: "It has come around so quickly, especially during lockdown.

"This last one is going to be emotional. Both Sophie and Mia are doing so well and Mia is back to running, so to have them both there on the last day is going to be so special.

"There are friendships that have been formed during the last 12 months that will last a lifetime, with a very special nod as to why."

The last run will be around the bypass in Ruthin.

Manon Wilkinson, friend and head of Sixth Form at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, has been supporting Sally in her challenge.

Sally said: "Manon and I have been meeting up for socially distanced runs since lockdown was eased and we have asked friends and families to join us for the last one.

"We will be adhering to Welsh Government guidelines and staying in our own bubbles, although I’ve joined Manon’s bubble so we could continue together and staying two-metres apart.

"It’s a shame we can’t have an end of challenge party, but the important thing is the money we’ve raised for Wales Air Ambulance for Sophie and Mia."

Talking about how it has been raising money and continuing the parkruns during the virus pandemic, Sally said: "Obviously, the global pandemic was never on my risk assessment and we never thought anything like this would jeopardise the challenge but we carried on going, separately, doing the runs from our own homes.

"I can’t thank my son enough for his help and support during the whole challenge, but especially during the lockdown months.

"We couldn’t have ever imagined raising the amount of money we have.

"Our initial target was £2,000, which is roughly the cost of a call out for the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter. If we could have raised enough for one mission, we would have been over the moon. To reach more than £11,000 is just phenomenal.

"During this pandemic, the Wales Air Ambulance Charity has lost out on 100’s of charity events and fundraisers, with us having to cancel quite a few ourselves.

"To raise this amount of money, to help a charity that relies solely on public donations and to do it all with a friend like Manon, is just a privilege."

Donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sallysmith52parkruns