Superstar Alex Jones has announced her continued support for the Kidney Wales, HSBC Cardiff 10k Race this year. Alex will make her first appearance as presenter of the BBC’s flagship show, the One Show.

Alex hopes to run again with the other 4000 runners who will be pounding the streets and parks of Cardiff City Centre on September 12th.

Alex has been a Kidney Wales supporter for many years and has regularly fundraised effectively for the Children’s Kidney Centre. Earlier this year she became a Patron of the charity.

Alex Jones said:

“Working with the children at the Kidney Wales Children’s Centre has been a great joy over the years . I will not forget seeing Robert Edwards receive his transplant and children like Theo Williams being cared by the Hospital.
This has led me to run the 10 k for the last three years and keen to ensure I give back and remember how fortunate I am.”

She added:

“I am looking forward to my new career on the One Show but I remain keen to support causes I value and supported over the years. I hope to join my friends at the 10 k and once again support kidney patients all over Wales. I am very proud to be a patron of Kidney Wales Foundation and looking forward to seeing the charity continue its progress over the forthcoming years.”

Raj Aggarwal OBE, Chair of Trustees said:

“Alex has been a tremendous Patron of the charity for patients and families. She is caring and kind and regularly visits the Children’s Centre. Her commitment in Wales is well known and she is proud of her roots as we are proud of her.”

Roy J. Thomas, Executive Chairman of the Charity and Donate Wales said:

“The BBC has made the right choice in sharing Alex with the UK. Wales is wishing her every success on the One Show. Alex is a “cariad” especially to the very ill children and families we have seen her visit. She is hard working and we are fortunate that she puts back her energy into a little charity like us especially with her demanding schedule.”

Funds from last year’s Cardiff 10k helped pay for a much needed £100,000 refurbishment of the Children’s Kidney Centre in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff – so that young kidney patients and their families can receive treatment in a welcoming, fun and relaxed environment with modern equipment.

Alex is a regular visitor and a familiar face at the Centre. She has met many patients over the years, such as Robert Edwards, from Dinas Powys. When Alex met Robert in 2008, he was in need of a life changing kidney transplant and had been on the waiting list for two years. On a separate visit before Christmas, she visited the Centre once again and met many more young kidney patients, including Theo Williams. Baby Theo suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease and receives treatment at the Centre (see attached photo).

Photographs available

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

-The HSBC Cardiff 10k and 2k is organised by the Kidney Wales Foundation and takes place on the 12th September.
o10K starts at 10.00am
o2K starts at 9.15am
-It will start and finish on Cardiff’s iconic King Edward VII Avenue at the heart of the city’s Civic Centre.
-A host of celebrities took part in the 2009 10k including Katherine Jenkins and rugby star Mike Phillips. This year the Patron of the event is the Rt. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM for Cardiff West and former First Minister.

-Over 75 Corporate and Community teams from the area take part.

-Telephone entries now open. (029) 20 343 951

-People can enter online at www.Cardiff10k.com

-Entries close on the 6th September.

-Please note there will be no entry on the day. Superstar Alex Jones has announced her continued support for the Kidney Wales, HSBC Cardiff 10k Race this year. Alex will make her first appearance as presenter of the BBC