Positive news about award winning mountain racer Mark Davies following a devastating hit and run incident last January…

Positive news about award winning mountain racer Mark Davies following a devastating hit and run incident last January…

*Special report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

 

Thankfully, there has been some positive news this week about the award-winning mountain racer and fell runner Mark Davies who was seriously injured during a devastating hit and run incident close to his home near Llandudno last January.

*Mark in yellow vest (*above) pictured with fellow competitors in the Swiss Mountain 360 race.

Mark (48), who is a member of the North Wales Road Running club, and is also a top Welsh Master ultra-distance competitor, has faced extensive medical treatment at a specialist injury hospital in Stoke following the incident on 28th January, when he was in collision with a VW Polo.
This led to a lengthy period in a coma, and an operation on his legs, and during this period, Mark’s friend Darrel Lewis launched a special fundraising appeal via a GoFundMe page which raised over £20k for the star athlete, who is self-employed. Darrel explained that he was trying to raise funds for Mark’s wife Leanne and his family.

The news of Mark’s horrific accident triggered shock waves around the running community nationwide and came within weeks of him receiving a ‘Special Achievement’ prize at the Conwy Sports Awards in North Wales for his incredible performance at the Swiss Peaks 360 ultra race, together with some other outstanding results in similar mountain challenge races and fell runs.

Mark’s popularity was acknowledged at his local parkrun at Conwy, when NWRRC and parkrun official John Hatton (*pictured left), mentioned news of his accident less than a week after the incident. John said: “You could have heard a pin drop when I made the announcement.”
And after the event, John added that he noticed about £400 had been donated towards the appeal and said that even walkers had asked him where they could donate.
This week after several months of uncertainty Mark’s wife Leanne Davies confirmed some good news, saying: “I would just like to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support shown to me and my family during this most difficult time. 
“I am sorry that I cannot message everyone personally – there are just too many – but I am so grateful and lost for words at the kindness shown.
“Mark (aka Dav) is now conscious and responsive however he still has a very long road of recovery and rehabilitation ahead. We are getting small positives and taking everything a day at a time. I will update you all, when possible, with further news.”

*Mark Davies (*above) sets the pace in a mountain race.

The extraordinary exploits of Mark Davies have been chronicled on a regular basis on the NWRRC website and on my running blog: I have added the links so that other runners and supporters can appreciate Mark’s achievements: https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

 

*(12/9/22): Don Hale Blog: Welsh fell runner Mark Davies tackled the daunting... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2022/09/welsh-fell-runner-mark-davies-tackled.html?spref=tw

*(28/11/22): Don Hale Blog: Hat-trick of top sporting prizes for the Road Runn... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/hat-trick-of-top-sporting-prizes-for.html?spref=tw

*(30/11/22): Don Hale Blog: Welsh fell runner Mark Davies wins ‘Special Achiev... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/welsh-fell-runner-mark-davies-wins.html?spref=tw

*(6/2/23): Mountain Runner Mark Davies continues his battle for life at specialist injury hospital – and appeal reaches £20k: Don Hale Blog: Mountain runner Mark Davies continues his battle f... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2023/02/mark-continues-his-battle-for-life-at.html?spref=tw

Police appeal for information in January

Mark’s incident in January sparked a major police appeal: This is a copy of the details mentioned by North Wales Police at the time: Mark Davies (48). APPEAL
At approximately 23.20 hrs last night (Saturday 28/1/23) a collision occurred between a black VW Polo and a pedestrian in LLanrhos, Llandudno.
The VW Polo left the scene at the time prior to the arrival of the police. As a result, a 48-year-old man has suffered life-changing injuries and is currently receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital.
We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Crogfryn Lane at the time of the incident or may have dash cam, or CCTV footage to contact us.
A black VW Polo also had a collision outside Llandudno Magistrates Court on Conwy Road. Any witnesses or anyone with information, including dash cam or CCTV footage from this collision at approximately 23.40, or from the earlier collision on Crogfryn Lane, are asked to contact us.