A FAMILY from Pontypool will be participating the Cardiff Half Marathon in memory of their loved one, who was killed in a motorbike accident.

Ray Jones, 50, was the pillion passenger who died in a crash on the B4246 in Blaenavon in September 2016.

Described as the “rock of her family” and “always full of life, love and happiness”, she was involved in the crash with her husband Brian.

The couple had been out celebrating their forthcoming 28th wedding anniversary with friends and were on the way home prior to the accident, which occurred three miles from their home.

Jane Roynon and Katie Jenkins, Mrs Jones’s sister and daughter respectively, will be raising money for Brake, the road safety charity, which helped the family following the accident.

Mrs Jenkins, 30, of High Street, Abersychan, said the family had been involved with the charity in the January following the accident.

“One of the services they do is counselling and my dad has been using that service after the incident,” said Mrs Jones’s daughter.

“The first time my dad had a counselling session with Brake was the January following the accident.

“He went to the doctors originally but he did not get on with that.

“It has helped my dad. He has been able to postpone the sessions for the moment but it is there for him if he needs them.

“With my dad, not only did he lose his wife in the accident but he was involved himself.

“Physically he is doing ok, but I guess like us all he is trying his best.”

Mrs Jenkins said that she was advised to speak to Brake following the crash by her doctor and the advice is there to help families.

Mrs Roynon, 40, of Commercial Close, Talywain, added: “I think he found it helped. He (Mr Jones) was able to speak to them about issues which perhaps he could not say to us.

“They were open to any member of the family to speak to them about what happened as it is just something you cannot prepare for.

“It is a tailored service and has an understanding of what the families are going through following a road accident.”

She said that her sister would have not believed that the pair were preparing to run 13.1 miles around the capital.

“I think Ray would think we were nuts for doing the half marathon. She wasn’t a runner herself but she was active,” said Mrs Roynon.

“She enjoyed walking and she had an exercise machine in her garage and a bike but she never ran.

“Ray would have been so proud to see Katie do the half marathon. She was proud when she did the Race for Life.

“She would have loved to have been there, although I’m sure she would be calling us a variety of different names of having signed up for it in the first place.”

Lisa Kendall, Brake’s community fundraising manager, said: “We wouldn’t be able to continue our life-saving work without her help and the rest of our wonderful fundraisers.

“Brake is really keen to hear from people who would like to take part in fundraisers for us, whether it be running a marathon, 5K run or taking part in other fantastic events available.

“Every penny raised will be put towards our work supporting families whose lives have been devastated by a road crash, and campaigning for safer roads.”

The pair will be running as part of a five strong team called “Running for Ray” and to donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/jane-roynon.