IF the wheels on the bus are to continue going round and round for a Powys youth group, they will have the footsteps of a Powys woman to thank, after she raised nearly £1,000 by walking for 12 hours straight.

Joanne Lumb, 48, came up with an interesting way to raise funds so that Llandrindod Wells RAF Air Cadets can purchase a new minibus – walking laps around Llandrindod Lake from sunrise to sunset last week.

Joanne pounded the tarmac around the spa town beauty spot last Friday, March 22, completing 44 laps in just over 12 hours. She covered a total distance of 44.94 kilometres (Just shy of 28 miles), equating to 64,994 steps – more than six times the recommended total for an average adult.

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Joanne admitted that she loves the lake, but might give it a wide berth for a while after spending half a day there on Friday.

“I was pretty much walking all day except when I had a bit of a wobble at 1pm and a friend got me a walking stick,” said Joanne, who only stopped briefly for a sandwich at lunchtime.

“I did the first 30km quite quickly and then I slowed down a bit in the afternoon.

“I powered on and had various people come to join me, including parents of cadets and county councillor Jake Berriman, who kept me going.

“The original plan was to walk on the summer equinox, but 18 hours of walking seemed a bit too long; 12 hours on the closest Saturday to the Spring equinox seemed a bit more achievable, and it was something that wasn’t difficult to arrange.”

Joanne completed on average four laps an hour, jokingly adding: “I’m asking myself today why I did it, but these young adults are worth it.

“Living in rural Wales, a minibus is a crucial way of transporting the young Air Cadets to activities around the region.”

The spa town-based squadron, which aims to train young men and women in leadership and citizenship roles through exciting and adventurous activities, have been fundraising for a new bus since 2021.

Their old one has served them faithfully for a decade but desperately needs replacing.

County Times: Joanne walked laps around Llandrindod Lake from dawn 'til dusk. Joanne walked laps around Llandrindod Lake from dawn 'til dusk. (Image: Llandrindod Wells RAF Air Cadets)

“People might think we get funding from the RAF but we don’t. We get the building where we’re based but nothing else,” said Joanne.

“We work to give kids opportunities and we work with more at risk kids who might otherwise be on the streets causing chaos because they’re bored.

“We have a couple of regular intakes but one thing we’re really struggling for is adults to help out."

“You don’t have to have a military background, I certainly don’t.”

The minimum age for being an Air Cadet is 12/Year 8 at high school.

Within Powys there are three Air Cadet Squadrons – Llandrindod Wells, Newtown and Welshpool – along with a Detached Flight at Brecon. Air cadets meet twice a week and some weekends too.

Volunteering details can be found on www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets. To find out more about the Llandrindod squadron, visit the Llandrindod Wells RAF Air Cadets Facebook page or email oc.579@rafac.mod.gov.uk​.

Joanne’s laps around the lake fundraiser has so far raised £762, but other donations means that figure is closer to £1,000.

You can donate here until Friday, April 5.