Councillor Neil Maher, Mayor of Westhoughton "I'm raising £1,000 for local Charities including The Darren Deady Foundation, Westhoughton Assist Service and Senior Solutions.

I have served 22 years in the armed forces and 20 with the NHS. In 2018, to celebrate my 60th birthday, I walked Hadrian’s Wall unaided, and at the same time raised funds for local charities. Unfortunately, less than 12 months later my health and fitness progressively deteriorated.

Finally, last April I had a heart operation, following which I struggled to walk to the corner shop! However, I aim to get fitter and healthier again. So, I have set a challenge to walk up Snowdon unaided by March 2025 (circa 12 months after the operation), and raise money for 3 local charities:

Senior Solutions – is a local charity in Westhoughton providing regular social events for older residents of the town. The growing number of attendees gain personal benefits from social interaction and through health and wellbeing activities.

Westhoughton Assist –working hard to respond to food poverty and disadvantage in Westhoughton through our community food shop. They have been supporting households facing financial issues to access affordable food supplies, help and advise since 2020. In 2021, they opened a Community Shop in Westhoughton to help local people avoid food poverty and stay well.

The Darren Deady Foundation –The foundation was created in the memory of Kingsman Darren Deady who lost his life whilst serving in Helmand province, Afghanistan. It provides invaluable support to local veterans who have fallen on harder times, by providing temporary accommodation, meals and a variety of support channels. The foundation has recently taken over a former council building to provide more accommodation and welfare facilities. However, it is in need of repair and refurbishment.

I hope that you will be able to donate and follow my challenge to walk to the summit of Snowdon.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page."

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