Charity trekkers walking on sunshine

A GLORIOUS day of walking around Shaw and Crompton raised money for good causes.

The sun shone down as around 16 people took part in the Shaw and Crompton Parish Council Chairman’s Walk around the 11-mile circuit.

So far, £290 has been raised for the chairman’s charities Oldham Owls, which helps disabled and able-bodied people in sport, and the spinal unit action group at Southport Hospital.

Parish council chairman Councillor Mari Wiswell was left in a wheelchair following a car crash and had appealed through the Chronicle for people to walk the route for her.

Her sons Paul and Steven had been intending to do the walk but work commitments meant they were unavailable. But the publicity saw past pupils from Crompton House school take part with Joanne Smith and her father Steve walking for her.

Councillor Wiswell was an inspirational teacher at Crompton House for three decades before directing her energies into community issues after the accident.

The walk started and ended at the Jubilee Pub with Councillor Wiswell and Councillor Diane Williamson seeing the walkers off.

A parish council spokesman said: “Thanks to all the walkers and to those who led the way and took the rear guard. Thank-you also to Father Scanlon of St Joseph’s Church who allowed the walkers to use the facilities at the church hall.”

The next chairman’s event is the Last Night of the Proms held at The Playhouse2 Theatre, Shaw, on Saturday, October 31.