Singing star Sioned Terry to perform at Deganwy Dash in honour of extraordinary young student

Special report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Rohan’s Ingley’s family

The classically trained mezzo-soprano and Welsh soloist Sioned Terry will be a special guest at this month’s Deganwy Dash – now known as Rohan’s Run.

She will perform shortly before the start of this special tribute race to an extraordinary young student.

Sioned from North Wales, is an internationally renowned artist and has shared the stage with a host of well-known musicians, singers, and entertainers, in addition to numerous outstanding Welsh male voice choirs throughout the UK and abroad.

She has also performed on two separate occasions for the Royal Family, and at many top sporting events, including a special performance for the Welsh Commonwealth Games team.

Sioned told race organisers John and Kay Hatton and Carla Green, that she is delighted to have been invited to perform, and possibly even run, at this particular 5-mile race immediately prior to the 7pm start, and said she had a very special reason for attending.

The event will both commemorate and celebrate the life of an extraordinary young man, Rohan Ingley, who tragically lost his long battle with leukaemia in August 2018, aged just 17.

And quite remarkably, Sioned was once Rohan’s music teacher, prior to her seeking a highly successful singing career, and so she still retains a very personal interest, and is determined to pay her own tribute to her former scholar.

This challenging but picturesque 5-mile race starts on Deganwy promenade and will take runners along the Conwy Estuary footpaths towards the Cob and Conwy Castle, and then crosses the footbridge to the RSPB Nature Reserve, before returning via the reverse route.

This popular race, formerly known as the Deganwy Dash will now be known as Rohan’s Run and all proceeds will be donated to CLIC Sargent and Ronald McDonald House, Cancer in Children charities.

Joint race directors John and Kay Hatton and Carla Green, said they felt honoured to be asked to take on this tribute race and admitted to feeling very humble after getting know Rohan’s family, and to fully understanding just what they had been through.

Rohan from Abergele, was a highly talented all-rounder, who excelled at sport and music, and was a very popular student at the King’s School in Chester.

His father and mother, Sanjay and Aradhana, together with his sister Shreya, wanted everyone to know just how much Rohan’s short life was appreciated by so many people.

They thanked the race team for their incredible support and said they were very much looking forward to this year’s event, which unfortunately has been delayed for the past two years due to Covid restrictions.

The family however, admitted, they never fully realised Rohan’s popularity until he first started to become ill, and additionally, Sanjay praised generous and continuous support for his young son from Rohan’s friends, fellow students, parents, and teachers.

Sanjay acknowledged: “He was an exceptional person, and despite being on regular chemotherapy for leukaemia, his achievements outside of academics included a Grade 7 for drums and piano, and he also played cricket for the NE Wales county team, the King’s School team, and for St Asaph Cricket Club.

“And additionally, he had accolades in the past for karate, chess and even swimming, and achieved a gold medal at national level.”

Rohan’s name has since been commemorated at the King’s School, where the ‘Rohan Ingley Centre’ has recently been built. It is a new Pastoral Centre utilising the latest state of the art facilities. It comprises of an impressive medical centre, a learning support department, and a counselling service.

• Entries are now open for this event and hosts NWRRC are hoping to attract runners of any age or ability to this revived 5-mile Deganwy Dash/Rohan’s Run to be staged on Friday evening June 24th, 2022.
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