AFTER having his Christmas Wish granted by the Adver last year, a great-grandfather who is battling cancer has been able to get back on his bike.

Bill Brown, of Moredon, could not believe it last December when we handed him a new mountain bike at Swindon Cycles Superstore after his wife, Margaret, nominated him.

Bill, 72, who is still receiving treatment for cancer, started riding the bike when he felt well enough in May and has been using it nearly every day since. Margaret said: “People who saw him in the paper have seen him on his bike and have spoken to him and it has given him a lift. We had people writing to us saying they were really pleased for us.

“At that time Bill was putting money away for a new bike because his old one was damaged when he was knocked off it by a car. Now he loves that bike. When it’s not raining he rides to get the shopping. He also visits elderly people in their 90s on it and does their shopping too.

“Whoever gets a Christmas Wish is very lucky – it’s a marvellous thing.”

Bill, who has 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, said: “It’s a lovely bike, I’m out all the time.”

We launched our Christmas Wish Appeal 2012 yesterday, and we want to hear from you about the people who deserve a special treat this year.

From December 11 to Christmas Eve, we will be granting a wish a day for one worthy person or group.

Wishes can be big or small – our aim is simply to to make Christmas as magical as possible for those who deserve it most.

If you can think of someone who needs or deserves cheering up this Christmas, we want to hear from you. Tell us who the person is, why they need a Christmas Wish and how we can help. You can send in your nomination in the following ways:

  • By post: Print off a  PDF of the form and then send it to Michelle Tompkins, Christmas Wish Appeal 2012, Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3BE. Click here: Christmas Wish 2012 form.pdf
  • By email: Click here to send us details of who deserves a Christmas Wish. Please remember to include what the wish should be and why. Give your email the subject header ‘Christmas Wish 2012’. Please be sure to include your own phone number and the number of the person you are nominating.