*Pictured above left - Josie Davies with her daughter Nikki in London.

Josie's prolific fundraising activities for the Happy Faces Children's Charity...

Special report and introduction by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

Josie Davies is a keen and very popular social runner, who is also a prolific charity fundraiser for the Happy Faces Children’s Charity which supports sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across North Wales.

This incredible and locally based organisation first began in 2003, and they have since raised over £1M and provided twelve specially adapted school minibuses for over 5,000 children, in addition to specialist equipment for more than 700 children in North Wales.

Josie has taken part in various marathons and numerous demanding events over the years for this particular organisation, and her happy and smiling face can often be seen running up and down Llandudno prom, or around the local area, whilst training hard for her next venture.

And despite her strict fitness routine, she always seems to have the time and energy to stop and chat with many friends and supporters she encounters en route, who may have followed her journey online, and remain eager to know how she went on.

Many people may not be aware though, that she lost her beloved husband, and chief supporter Gethin (Gef), to cancer last January, but she still remains determined to help raise money for such a worthy cause, despite bravely dealing with her very personal and tragic hardship.

This is Josie’s story with updates – and she tells how she has just completed her latest running challenge, the London Vitality 10k for the Happy Faces Charity:

Happy Faces Children’s Charity purchased three places for me in the London Vitality 10k after Gethin passed in January, so that I could continue to raise money for Happy Faces in Gethin’s name.

This particular charity has always been extremely important to Gef, and I promised him before he passed that I would continue to support the charity in any way that I could. So, myself, my daughter Nikki, and a friend in London took part and we had a great day.

It was very emotional as Gef would have normally been there with us cheering us on along with the boys, but I know he would be extremely proud that we had done it for him and his charity. My boys and my little granddaughter’s also came to support Nikki and I, along with Nikki’s partner Dan.

*I will also be running the London Marathon again next year for Happy Faces and it will be my 18th London Marathon for them.

And just after her recent successful 10k run in London, Josie confirmed: “Well we did it. Davies stubbornness got us through again after poor Nikki, being really poorly for two weeks prior to the race, but she did it, and she still went and beat me! A little superstar. Thank you to everybody that has sponsored us and for all your continuous support, it is so appreciated, and I think Gef would have been really proud today.”

*Josie Davies is pictured with her grandchildren after a successful charity race.

Josie launched her latest charity appeal for Happy Faces relating to the recent London 10k event via her JustGiving page: And any further donations would still be welcomed:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/josie-davies-12?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

This is the report on her JustGiving promotional page:

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page again! As many may know that back in January, we lost our Gef to Cancer. He fought tirelessly for nearly 5 years to try and beat it, but sadly the beast of cancer finally beat him.

He endured so much pain and suffering, but he never let it control him and continued to work throughout doing the job he so loved supporting people and continued to support Happy Faces, which was a children’s charity very close to his heart for over 20 years.

So, I’m going to continue to support and raise money for this charity with my running in Gef’s honour, and in this race my Nikki will also be taking part alongside me.

So once again I hear you cry! If you have any spare change going, please support this amazing charity, they do so much good for so many children in North Wales and it’s all run by volunteers who give up their own time. This is for Gef.Thank you all once again for your continuous support and love you are amazing humans xx.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So, it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/josie-davies-12?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Happy Faces Children's Charity

RCN 1101620

www.happyfaceschildrenscharity.org.uk/