Report & Picture by Michael Berry
RETIRED Royal Air Force Engineer David Smithson donned a fairy costume and jogged around local villages to raise funds and awareness for disabled children’s charity Whizz Kidz.
Culcheth resident David, 73, who is retired from the Royal Air Force but still works as an engineer, has been jogging around local villages to raise awareness and funds for the Whizz Kidz charity and to prepare for a marathon on October 4.
Whizz Kidz was established in 1990 and celebrates its anniversary in 2020.
The vision of Whizz Kidz is to provide children and young people with vital mobility equipment, life journey services and give them the opportunity to build friendships, have fun, as well as training to help them gain skills and a brighter future.
After a car accident in 2008, fundraiser David was determined to get back to fitness and what better way to do that than running for charity.
“I was supposed to run the marathon on the 26th April and for the first time I was going to run in a costume outfit for the charity Whizz Kids.
“The charity is for kids and provides precision wheelchairs as well as looking after young children who have Cerebral Palsy.”
Charlotte Ulett, Senior Events Fundraising Executive, said: “We can’t thank David enough for taking on this challenge to support young wheelchair users.
“Despite the physical event being cancelled, David has shown his determination to make a difference by joining the virtual marathon challenge and we wish him all the best!
“Though we can’t be there physically, we will be behind all our team, supporting them all the way.”
Wheelchairs can cost a minimum of £3000 and the fundraising efforts by David are hoping to raise £2000 towards those aids.
“I was in the Royal Air Force and the nickname for the trade was fairies, so my wife Linda thought that I should run as a fairy.”
Thanks to the villagers of Culcheth and surrounding areas, David has helped to raise over £900 and will continue doing the runs to raise as much as possible for the charity.
The run will begin in the centre of the village on October 4 and will start on Lodge Drive before continuing to Hob Hey Lane then towards the care home on Jackson Avenue.
David will complete the circuit three times to raise as much money as possible.
Donations to help David raise awareness can be made at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserActivities?userUrl=DavidSmithson2
