A YOUNGSTER who is registered blind is to lead a group of walkers on a 13-mile trek across Powys this weekend.

Scores of people are gearing up for a walk with a difference – and it’s all because of an intrepid young man by the name of Mason Davies.

The event, entitled #Masons3TrigTrail, is a challenging 13-mile trek from Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells, via a series of trig points, which help surveyors to map the landscape.

The walk, taking place on Sunday, August 7, is expected to attract lots of participants along the way, with 11-year-old Mason having already raised more than £3,700 for Guide Dogs Cymru.

Mason, who lives at Caerigwibber Farm in Newbridge-on-Wye, is registered severely sight impaired/blind.

“I was diagnosed with retinal dystrophy and registered partially sighted in 2016 and then in April of this year it was altered to severely sight impaired (blind),” said Mason who, undeterred by his diagnosis, is facing the challenge head on.

“On August 7 I will be walking from my home farm, Caerigwibber, at 10am, heading for my first trig. From here I will be heading for my second trig at Maengowyn and from here heading to Garth Hill, approximately 12 miles in all. I hope you can join me.”

Mason’s father, Gareth, said: “His vision went on to deteriorate by 40 per cent and we’ve been warned he could lose his sight completely within a year.

“Mason starts high school in Builth next month and Guide Dogs Cymru has already given him an iPad through their ‘Tech for All’ scheme. He loves dogs and could need a guide dog in the future.

“Otherwise, he’s just like any other kid; he loves paddleboarding and is quite sharp at maths. He practised walking the whole trig course last Sunday and it was quite a challenge.”

Mason is an infectious character and already a bit of a celebrity locally. He then met radio presenter Wynne Evans at last month’s Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, just outside Builth, where the youngster took the opportunity to update listeners about his walk, live on BBC Radio Wales.

Also helping to publicise the event via a series of online video blogs is Simon John, known locally in and around Builth as ‘Jungle’, who made headlines over the last year by climbing Garth Hill for 365 successive days while also raising money for charity.

Gareth added: “I played rugby with Jungle for years and we know a lot of people locally.

“Jungle walked up Garth Hill every day for year to raise money for Builth Community Support, so it’s great to have him on board for this.”

Anyone is welcome to join in with Mason and Co on the walk. Alternatively, you can support Mason by visiting his gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/masons3trigtrail, which has already seen him raise a stunning £3,778.

Guide Dogs Cymru, or the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted in the UK, and the two million people in the living with sight loss. They are best known for their world-famous guide dogs, but their work now encompasses so much more. In recent years, they have expanded services beyond dogs to help thousands of people with different needs lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.