A CHANCE meeting in Tesco in Llandudno Junction this week by joint Deganwy Dash organiser John Hatton with checkout worker Beverly Miles led to a surprise but welcome cash boost towards children’s cancer charities.

John has helped to organise and promote this popular five-mile dash for many years with North Wales Road Runners Club (NWRRC) colleague Carla Green.

This year’s event, which will be held tonight (June 24) at 7pm, will now be known as Rohan’s Run, in memory of a young student, Rohan Ingley, who lost his long battle with leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17.

Rohan, from Abergele, was a highly talented all-rounder, who excelled at sport and music, and was a popular student at the King’s School in Chester.

John said: “I was in Tesco recently, and Beverly at the checkout heard me talking about the race and raising money for Cancer in Children.

“Beverly said her mother had died from cancer and that they had raised a small amount of money in her memory.

“She said I could have the money and put it to this cause, and later presented it to me at a very emotional handover. I felt very humble.

“Her mother was Diane Robinson, and both Beverly and her sister Karen Hughes wanted it dedicated in their names.

“The money will be going to Young Lives vs Cancer.”

This is the first time the race has been held since 2019 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

All proceeds from tonight’s race will be donated to CLIC Sargent and Ronald McDonald House, Cancer in Children charities.

And as a further boost, Sioned Terry, the classically trained mezzo-soprano Welsh soloist, will also be attending the race and will perform shortly before the start of the race as a personal tribute to Rohan, who was one of her former pupils when she worked as a music teacher.

READ MORE:

Welsh singer Sioned to perform at Deganwy Dash in tribute to young student

‘Rohan’s Run’ fundraiser race in Deganwy in memory of late Abergele student

The race has been sponsored by Tesco, Conwy County Borough Council and Spillane & Co Wealth Management.

Further details about the Deganwy Dash/Rohan’s Run are available at: secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=4754.