Children's charity chooses local ambassador (From Times Series)

Children's charity chooses local ambassador

2:22pm Saturday 10th November 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

A BUSINESSMAN from Welwyn Garden City has been appointed special ambassador for a leading UK children's charity to mark its 21st anniversary.

Brian Winston OBE, chairman of train station confectioners Journey's Friend, has raised money for the Make-A-Wish charity for more than 12 years, helping to grant wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.

His shop, which can be found at major train stations across the UK, also supports the charity by providing free goody bags to every wish child departing from a mainline station on a trip of a lifetime made possible by the charity.

This year the charity organised a trip to Disneyland Paris for six-year-old Nathan Eade, who suffers from Hirschsprung's Disease, a condition which affects the large intestine, causing extreme discomfort.

He was also presented with a special goody bag filled with sweets, soft drinks and small toys before he left Waterloo Station for his magical excursion.

Brian said: "Fundraising for charity is always a worthy cause, but Make-A-Wish is something special.

"Most parents and grandparents know what it is for their children to be ill and most of them know they will get better.

"However, regrettably some children do not get better and it is those children and families that Make-A-Wish is trying to help.

"I am pleased and honoured to have been appointed an anniversary ambassador and look forward to fulfilling my role over the coming year."

Brian will be reponsible for raising the charity's profile throughout the anniversary year and has also pledged to raise a further £21,000 for Make-A-Wish through a range of fundraising activities.

In August, staff at Journey's Friend in Doncaster organised a sponsored head shave and raffle which raised more than £1,500 for the charity.

Neil Jones, chief executive of Make-A-Wish Foundation, said: "Brian has been an invaluable supporter of the charity over the years and was an obvious choice to become a special anniversary ambassador.

"We are delighted to have him on board in this our 21st anniversary year."

• Print
• Email
• Share