Sponsored Pen Y Fan walk raises £300,000 for charities

In the Winter of 2015, Stephen Western, 45, had an idea he hoped would help a family in need.

His close friends Liz and Lee had just had the news every parent dreads; their son Harri had a rare and aggressive form of Cancer.

Whilst walking Pen Y Fan with his dog Cooper, Stephen decided to do something to help.

He set up "Ten Y Fan" a challenge which sees participants climb Pen Y Fan ten times in 24 hours.

What started off as a one-off fundraising day for close family and friends has now turned into an annual event.

Ten Y Fan now attracts hundreds of climbers each year from all over the UK.

But it's not just a walk in the park, Stephen says some have described it as "the hardest thing they've ever done."

To date, Stephen and his team of volunteers, along with Harri's family, have now raised over £300,000 for various charities.

Last year they even set up their own charity to provide holidays and special trips for families in similar situations.

Stephen is the first of four nominees in Wales shortlisted for the Pride of Britain ITV Fundraiser Award.

The award honours individuals who’ve really made a difference to others through their creative or tireless fundraising efforts.

One of the four shortlisted will be crowned Wales' ITV Fundraiser of the Year 2019 and will attend the star-studded awards ceremony in London at the end of October, where they could be in with a chance to win the overall UK Fundraiser 2019 award.

Last year's Wales winner was 31-year-old Josh Llewellyn-Jones, who raised over £80,000 to help children living with Cystic Fibrosis.