A HOSPITAL worker who admits running is not on her list of fun pastimes is taking on the Cardiff Half-Marathon next month in aid of Nevill Hall Children’s Centre.

Lorraine Jenkins works as an ISCAN care coordinator in the Centre and has personal experience of the challenges faced by children with disabilities.

She told the Chronicle, ‘My son has disabilities and wants nothing more than for people to see his ability, to have the same opportunities as his friends and to have fun.

‘The reality is many clubs and activities are just not built for a child who may not like groups,cannot access the facilities because they may be in a wheelchair or have many other issues which makes accessing everyday activities difficult, that doesn’t mean they should not have the same opportunities as their peers.’

Lorraine will now be pounding the pavements of the Capital on October 7 in aid of The umbrella Appeal, which supports Nevill Hall Children’s Centre by providing enhanced activities for children with a disability and/or developmental difficulty.

Warm water swimming lessons are provided to children who are unable to access mainstream lessons, parent workshops are also available for parents to learn skills to support their children, parties are organised four times a year so every child has the opportunity to have fun at a party and a family liaison officer is there to support parents when needed and signpost to services.

Lorraine states, ‘Without vital funding these amazing provisions wouldn’t be available to families. I see daily how many families benefit from the enhanced services that are supported by charitable funds.

‘I am running the Cardiff Half to raise funds to continue warm water swimming lessons for children who benefit from them.

‘I am no runner! Running does not come easy to me and isn’t particularly on my list of ‘fun’. These children deserve the opportunity and they push through many struggles every day, in comparison, a few hours struggle for me is nothing.’