A devoted father from Conwy County has completed a remarkable marathon challenge in Spain, raising a significant sum for North Wales's sole children's hospice.
From Llandudno Junction to Valencia
In December 2025, Iain Burgess, a father of two from Llandudno Junction, took on the renowned Valencia Marathon. This was only his second-ever marathon, with his first taking place nearly 15 years earlier in 2012. Motivated by a desire to support local families, Iain self-funded his entire trip to Spain to ensure every penny raised went directly to Tŷ Gobaith children's hospice.
"The work the hospice does in our community really touched me," Iain shared. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a child with a life-threatening condition and what families face daily. I really wanted to show my support."
A Community Effort in Fundraising
To kickstart his sponsorship, Iain incorporated local races across North Wales into his rigorous training schedule. His fundraising efforts received a substantial boost from his employer, the energy company RWE, which generously offered pound-for-pound match funding up to £500.
Iain had a clear personal goal alongside his charitable mission. Having completed his first marathon in 2012 in four hours and nine minutes, he aimed to shave a full hour off his time. The Valencia Marathon, famous for being one of the world's fastest courses, provided the perfect opportunity.
Presenting the Bumper Cheque
The result was a resounding success on all fronts. Iain not only achieved his ambitious running target, finishing the race in an impressive three hours flat, but he also raised a fantastic total of £1,619 for Tŷ Gobaith.
In early January, Iain visited the hospice in the Conwy Valley for a tour of the facilities and to personally present his cheque. He was welcomed by fundraiser Sian Golding, who expressed profound gratitude for his efforts.
"Without people like Iain, life would be much harder for so many local families raising a child with a life-threatening condition," Sian stated. "Every penny he raised with his impressive effort will help us create quality moments and memories for our families and provide the vital respite parents desperately need. A huge thanks to Iain and RWE for the match-funding. You're stars."
Inspired by the entire experience, Iain has already signed up to run the Valencia Marathon again the following winter, hoping to continue his support for the vital hospice services.
