Frome-based family support charity, Purple Elephant's staff and trustees are smiling from ear to ear as they have learned that Dumbo, the Children's Festival mascot, will be running the Bath Half Marathon to raise funds for this popular local group.

Sponsoring Dumbo in the 21km race will help ensure that Purple Elephant continues to provide vital services for disadvantaged families. Established in 2015 to put on the Children's Festival, this small but very active charity has grown to provide Stay-and-Play sessions, a Befriending services, free Holiday Activities with meals, an early-years Parent Support advice service and the Frome Toy Library. Underneath the adorable Dumbo elephant disguise, lies the caring face of local volunteer and charity champion, Radek Evans.

As Purple Elephant founder, Sue Willis, tell us "Previously seen as a huge yellow duck riding the zipwire over the river, Radek is amazing. He is already known to many for his unpaid, volunteer work stewarding at the Frome Town Football Club, being part of the Frome Carnival fundraising committee, supporting at Active and In Touch and Frome Festival's Open Garden's event as well as being a Frome Town Council team Noticeboard Ambassador.

We are delighted that he has made this huge offer to run his first ever half-marathon for us! He tells us that being 'in character' make challenges easier, because it is Dumbo, not him, doing the hard work! We are very grateful and would encourage everyone to please sponsor him, to support us."

Already honoured with two Mayor's Civic Awards for volunteering, from Westbury in 2018 and from Frome in 2020, behind Radek's enthusiasm, humour and hard work lies a challenge that makes his determination even more impressive.

Radek was born, and lives with, Klinefelter Syndrome, a relatively rare genetic condition which affects both muscle strength and co-ordination, making training for, and ultimately completing, the Bath Half Marathon a very tough ask indeed.

When asked what motivates him to do so much volunteer work, Radek revealed "The run seemed like a crazy idea at first but I'm very into it now. I've really enjoyed supporting Purple Elephant before at their festival and on their Independent Market collection day, so they're very close to my heart because they look after families. It's probably because of my own family that I do my volunteering.

My mum's always told us we are here for a short time and all in it together, so that is how I've been brought up. In fact, my first charity event was when I was 6 years old, at a United Nations event, so it must be in my blood."

Radek Evans, one of Frome's quiet heroes in the town, will be participating in the Bath Half Marathon on October 15th, using Local Giving donations to support Purple Elephant's continued family support charity work in the community. You can sponsor Radek, aka Dumbo, by searching 'Dumbo Bath Half Marathon LocalGiving' or via this link HERE or via Purple Elephant's social media pages and website www.PurpleElephant.org.uk