A dedicated team of 24 runners recently completed the ABP Newport Half Marathon to honour a father-of-two who tragically died while training. Newport resident Jake Powell was only 30 years old when he was involved in a collision while jogging in Kenilworth in November 2025. Jake had originally planned to run the race to raise money for CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Action) after the charity supported his young son, Arthur.
To keep his mission alive, Jake's friends and family stepped up to take on the 13.1-mile challenge in his memory. Among those running was Jake's brother-in-law, Jason Baker, who works as a Risk Manager at Admiral. "My wife's brother, Jake, was killed when he was involved in a collision while out jogging last November," Jason shared. He explained that Jake had recently taken up running with his wife, Elly, to give back to the charity that helped Arthur, who was born with a cleft palate.
After the accident, Jake's sister Abi and Jason promised Elly they would complete the run by her side. Although Jason and Abi were not regular runners, they signed up for the event within a week of the tragedy to ensure Jake's goal was met. The team eventually grew to 24 people, and their combined efforts have already raised more than £10,000 for CLAPA. The group consisted of various abilities, from those chasing personal bests to those simply aiming to cross the finish line together.
Jason described Jake as a positive person who would always go out of his way to help others. Jake's son Arthur was born with Pierre Robin Sequence and required multiple operations to assist with his feeding and hearing. Thanks to the support and surgeries, Arthur's speech and development are now progressing wonderfully. CLAPA provides vital resources for families, such as special feeding bottles and counselling sessions for parents in need.
Louise Dutton from CLAPA expressed how honoured the charity is to have the support of Jake's community in Newport. She noted that the scale of the fundraising efforts speaks volumes about the lasting impact Jake had on those around him. The money raised will help the charity continue providing emotional support and community networks for families across the UK.
Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Run 4 Wales, called the team's participation a powerful and moving tribute. He praised the resilience of the group for coming together to support such an important cause during a difficult time. The Newport Half Marathon took place on Sunday 19 April as part of the wider Newport Marathon Festival. Those wishing to contribute to the memorial fund can still donate through the team's official JustGiving page.
