Seven-year-old does sponsored silence during lockdown to raise money in aunt's memory

With the majority of children home from school during the lockdown, many parents may be hoping for a moment of silence. For one family in Miskin, this hope has become a reality.

Seven-year-old Hari Griffiths has been doing a sponsored silence every day for 10 days, even on his birthday.

Hari came up with the idea to raise money in memory of his aunt Rhian who died of cervical cancer when she was just 25.

At first, Hari's father said it did not think his "chatty" son would be able to keep silent.

Rhys Griffiths said: "We had a little practice run and it was about 15 seconds before he chatted again so he took a little bit of practice and then started the next day and then he went the whole 10 days then it was amazing."

Hari's grandfather Wayne, who set up the Rhian Griffiths Forget Me Not Fund at Velindre Cancer Centre, has also taken part in the challenge. The family said Wayne is "renowned as being a chatterbox".

Hari said he thinks Wayne found it more difficult than him to keep quiet: "All the time he just chats because he never stops chatting!"

Wayne's wife, Jayne Griffiths, said the sponsored silence was "bliss".

Since Rhian's death, the family along with friends and many others have fundraised tirelessly to raise money for the Rhian Griffith's Forget Me Not Fund. So far, they have raised more than £500,000.

Over the years, Wayne has set himself many challenges to raise money in Rhian's memory. But, his latest challenge while he is in isolation, is possibly the biggest yet.

He said: "I've done quite a few long haul walks, done a few runs, my highest 26 miles but I was thinking there is something much more difficult for me, much more challenging so it's all about the fact that it'll resonate with friends and the public we know because they'll think good grief he's going to have trouble doing that."