Mother runs half marathon for air ambulance
Zoe Rees, a 32-year-old mother-of-two from Caersws, Powys, will run the 2026 Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for the Welsh Air Ambulance. The charity saved her son Llew’s life when he was just seven hours old.
Llew suffered a seizure and needed to be rushed to hospital via helicopter in October 2020. He is now five years old, and Zoe credits the air ambulance’s quick response for his survival.
Zoe’s pregnancy with Llew was normal, but she had difficulty during labor at a hospital in Aberystwyth. Llew’s seizures were later found to be caused by a lack of oxygen during birth.
At Singleton Hospital, Llew was put into the neonatal intensive care unit and had an MRI scan at just three days old. The scan revealed mild to high scarring on his brain, and doctors said he had only a 20% chance of walking, talking, or sitting up.
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Despite the doctors’ prognosis, Llew started hitting all his milestones, including clapping, laughing, crawling, and walking. Zoe said it is absolutely insane that he has overcome the odds.
Zoe and her husband Peter were devastated by the thought that Llew might not be able to participate in sports. However, Llew’s progress has been remarkable, and he now loves running.
The family owes a great debt to the air ambulance, which not only saved Llew’s life but also provided emotional support during a traumatic time. Zoe said the staff at the air ambulance are incredible and try to turn negative experiences into positive ones.
Zoe will be running the Cardiff Half Marathon alongside her husband, two sisters, and her dad, all of whom will be fundraising for the Welsh Air Ambulance. Zoe said that training for the half marathon has opened up a whole world for her family and has changed their lifestyle.
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organizers Run 4 Wales, said that all runners have special and personal reasons for participating in the event. He wished Zoe and her family the best of luck with their training and looks forward to cheering them on during the race.
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For more information about the Cardiff Half Marathon, visit cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk. To donate to Zoe’s fundraising page, visit cardiffhalf26.enthuse.com/pf/peter-rees.
Zoe’s experience has not only inspired her to run the Cardiff Half Marathon but has also introduced her family to a new passion for running. She said that running has become a way for her and her husband to spend quality time together, with date nights now consisting of runs instead of other activities.
The whole family has gotten involved, with a Boxing Day run becoming a new tradition. Zoe said that running has been one of the best things she has ever done, and she is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the air ambulance that saved her son’s life.
Zoe’s family is now committed to supporting the Welsh Air Ambulance, and they hope to raise as much money as possible for the charity. They are training hard for the half marathon, and their efforts will help the air ambulance continue to provide its vital services.
