A local NHS worker who helps run a cookery group for people with mental health issues is raising money for the group by running a half-marathon.

Richard Wheeler helps out at the Cookery Club alongside tutor Julie Deacon who runs the classes. The group operates on a weekly basis from Abergavenny Youth Centre in collaboration with Coleg Gwent.

With the club returning after being forced to close due to Covid, there is a need for more kitchen appliances to meet demands, specifically more ovens as they only have access to one during classes.

To raise money to purchase the new ovens, Richard has decided to fundraise by running the Great Welsh Half-Marathon at Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire on Sunday, April 10.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Richard said: “Like many people I got into running more during the lockdowns and when we realised there was a need to purchase more appliances for the Cookery Club, I thought it would be a great idea to fundraise for the group.

Launched in 2019 the Cookery Club is aimed at helping members become more confident in their cooking skills and building new relationships, with the group’s main focus being the social aspect of cooking together.

The club has proven very popular and has even been nominated for an Adult Learner Prize in 2022.

Richard said: “The club has really taken off over the last few years.

“Some of the people who come live on their own and don’t want to cook for themselves because they lack motivation so they like to come together and cook with others.

“We’ve had some great feedback from the classes, one guy regularly cooks for his family now as a way of giving something back to them, whilst others batch cook at the class to prepare for meals for the week ahead.”

Richard signed up to his fundraising challenge three months ago and has been busy training, running four days a week often around his home in Crumlin and on Saturdays at Abeerbeeg Park Run.

Richard, who works as an Occupational Therapist Technician at Maindiff Court in Abergavenny, can often be seen running around Bailey Park during his lunch breaks as part of his preparation for the event, and recently completed his first 10k race at the Pontypool 10k Home Run on Sunday February 27.

As a part of his fundraising for the Cookery Club, Richard has set up a Facebook page for people to donate with a QR code available for people to donate quickly and easily from their phones, and has already raised over £650 for the club.

To further raise awareness of his challenge, he also has posters with QR codes to donate situated in local Abergavenny stores Morrisons and Wilkinsons.

Prizes including meals for two from Abergavenny food stall La Mediterranea and Potters pub in Newport, are also available for those who can successfully guess Richard’s running time for the half-marathon with those wishing to enter told to leave their answer in the comments section on Richard’s Facebook fundraising page.

For more information on Richard’s challenge please visit The Great Welsh Half Cookery Fundraiser Facebook page or to donate go to https://pay.collctiv.com/the-great-welsh-half-16428