Winston’s Wish is delighted to be welcoming its newest Ambassador, Alfie Watts. Many will recognise Alfie as the recent star of the BBC hit series Race Across the World where he revealed his own personal story of childhood bereavement during an especially poignant moment during his race to the finish line in which he remembered his Mum. 

Alfie’s Mum died when he was just five years old after she was diagnosed with cancer when he was only a newborn. Alfie recalls his mother’s determination to see him to his first day of school, “My Mum’s number one aim was to see me in school. She said, that ‘If I’m going to die, then at least, I’m going to die whilst he’s in school.’ And she did, she died when I was five.  

Over time she created a memory box with messages and photos and all kinds of things. She took me to my first day of school and I think it was a proud moment for her when she took me, but it was a deterioration from there, she’d pushed as far as she could and by Christmas of 2008, it was just a bridge too far

Alfie Watts, Winston’s Wish Ambassador

Alfie’s grief was triggered during a poignant moment in the series, he recalls, “I always knew that that moment would come up when it would be appropriate to remember my mum during the show. Part of me that always knew that there would be a right moment to open up about it; it felt necessary.” 

Viewers will recall when Alfie and Owen arrived in the beautiful Vietnamese city of Hoi An which is famed for its canals and lanterns, lit to remember deceased relatives. “Seeing all the lanterns in Hoi An was a beautiful yet bizarre experience,” recalls Alfie. “It was triggering because it took me right back to when I was younger; each year, we had a tradition in my family that we would light a lantern to remember my Mum, and we’d write a little message. Reigniting that moment was as special as it was poignant.” 

Now aged 21, with a hit television series under his belt, Alfie is keen to be a voice for bereaved young people and champion grief advocacy. He explains, “For me, growing up without my Mum was my normal. It wasn’t a nice normal, but it was my normal, I simply didn’t know anything else. It’s hard for other people who haven’t been bereaved to empathise with.  

“I was aware of charities like Winston’s Wish when I was younger, and I’m delighted to now be an ambassador for such an important charity that is reaching the thousands of young people across the UK who are in a similar situation to me.” 

Winston’s Wish is excited to welcome Alfie Watts as the charity’s newest ambassador and looks forward to working with him to raise awareness for the charity and its service.  

I wanted to do something incredible with Race Across the World, and telling my story about how my mum passed away when I was five, I knew that I wanted to follow that up by being a male voice in the community.

Alfie Watts, Winston’s Wish Ambassador

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Alfie’s charity single

In October 2024 our Ambassador Alfie, released his single, Hopeless Wings, to raise awareness and funds for Winston’s Wish.

Alfie is keen to be a leading voice in the grief community, especially for young males and hopes his new single will do just that!

Volunteer for Winston’s Wish!

Do something amazing by becoming a volunteer and help spread the word about Winston’s Wish.

Whether you’re championing Winston’s Wish in your local area, cheering on our fundraisers at the finish line or letting everyone know how to get support if they need it, by volunteering you can make a difference.