Gwen strides 10k to find cure for her Dadi

When nine-year-old Gwen Jones learned of her dad’s bowel disease Ulcerative Colitis two years ago, she set her sights on learning as much as she could about the disease.

After learning there is currently no cure for the disease she was watching her dad struggle with, the ever-compassionate and resilient Gwen decided to throw herself whole-heartedly into fundraising for research.

“At first, Gwen asked if she could give the scientists the money for the research, and we had to explain that it was a bit more than what she had in her piggy-bank,” said dad, Alex.

“Gwen has an acute understanding of my disease and can explain it better than most adults.

“She’s a very intelligent young lady; so much so that I think I’m talking to an adult sometimes.

“She sees me struggle with chronic pain and suppressing it with medication so she wants to do all she can to help me and others with Crohns and Colitis.”

Gwen took part in the WALK IT Swansea 10k event last weekend, raising over £500 for the charity.

Gwen explained: “A few years ago my Dadi was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.

“I was only little at the time, so I didn’t really understand why he was so ill all the time, but now I’m older I understand a lot about it.

“He suffers in silence and I want to find a cure for him and others like him.

“Most of the time he pretends to be well. When you see him and ask how he is, he is probably hiding the truth and being polite by saying that he is great and smiling like he always does.”

The Penygroes Primary School pupil knows that £145 can fund a full day’s research that could one day deliver a cure, and is driven to funding as many of those days as she can.

Gwen is planning on taking part in many more 10k walks around the UK, as well as organising other events locally.

Gwen’s sponsorship forms are available from Caroline’s hairdressers on Norton Road and donations can be made at justgiving.com/fundraising/gwen10kwalk too.