Colin Jackson steps out as an ambassador by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
World champion athlete Colin Jackson has been named as this year’s Walk for Life Ambassador.
The former 110m hurdler met patients at Cardiff’s Children’s Kidney Unit to launch this year’s fundraising event, which is organised by the Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF).
Last year fundraisers across Wales organised 32 walks raising £80,000 to help support kidney services at the University Hospital of Wales. A further £30,000 has been donated by the charity to the kidney unit to fund specialist staff to help children with kidney failure, as well as game stations, TVs and educational toys.
This year the charity hopes to raise £100,000 and more than 30 walks have already been organised throughout Wales.
Jackson said, “Meeting the children at the University Hospital of Wales made me realise just how important the Kidney Wales Foundation’s work is in Wales.
“Kidney Wales raises vital funds that help transform hundreds of lives every year. But this is only through the support and generosity of fundraisers and supporters.
“That is why the support of the people of Wales is so important and why I’m very proud and honoured to be the ambassador for such a worthy cause as the Walk for Life.”
KWF chairman Roy J Thomas, added, “Colin’s support will help raise awareness of the fact there are hundreds of people across Wales affected by kidney failure and many more that are at risk because of the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which can cause kidney damage.”
