Local Life - Wigan - November 2018

20
Happy Smiles
A Wigan-based charity
wants to raise money
and awareness by
participating in the
Dunham Massey
Duathlon.
Alex Winstanley, a PE
teacher and part-time
carer, set up Happy Smiles
last year. The charity aims
to highlight what people
with disabilities CAN
do instead of what they
can’t, as well as raising
awareness of conditions
such as cerebral palsy.
‘Happy Smiles began
when one of the men I
care for was hospitalised
last year. Haydn has
cerebral palsy, which
causes his muscles to
tighten, which can be eased with medication fed
through a pump into his spinal fluid. Complications
arose after an operation to replace it in March last
year, meaning he was in and out of hospital,’ Alex
said.
‘The name actually came from this experience. I set
up a Facebook page asking people to send photos
in of their happy smiles to cheer Haydn up, and we
had a massive response. So far we’ve reached over
70,000 people!’
Alex’s ultimate goal is to do charity work full-time,
leading disability awareness campaigns in schools.
Fundraising is the next step – which is why Alex
and Haydn are training for the Dunham Massey
Duathlon.
‘We’ve done some awareness campaigning already
– Haydn and I did a full week of assemblies in the
school I work at, and the kids now have projects
to complete on their own definitions of disability.
But we want to take it further and reach even more
people. I set up a crowdfunding page with a target
of £1000 and a video of Haydn and I training for the
event, and we’ve already smashed it!’
The race, which takes place on Sunday, November
25, consists of a 5km run and a 14km bike ride. Alex
estimates it will take him around an hour while
pushing Haydn – the team have already completed
the Wigan 10K twice.
For more information about Happy Smiles, head to
their Facebook page.