A COLWYN Bay civil engineering company and a Rhos-on-Sea charity arranged a day at the Welsh Mountain Zoo last week for almost 200 disabled or disadvantaged North Wales schoolchildren.

Llysfaen-based MWT Engineering, along with the Happy Faces Children’s Charity in Rhos-on-Sea, organised the event which took place on Thursday, September 23, after MWT raised roughly £3,900 by walking, cycling and canoeing across Snowdon in July.

The money left over from organising the day out was then split equally between the Welsh Mountain Zoo and Happy Faces, which amounted to almost £1,000 each.

A total of six schools, either from Wrexham, Flint, Llandudno or Colwyn Bay, took pupils to enjoy a fun-filled day at the zoo, while Abergele-born Georgia Wilson, who won bronze at the equestrian events at this summer’s Paralympics, made a special guest appearance.

Mike Thomas, owner of MWT, was glad to help put a smile on the children’s faces and to support the zoo, which has inevitably struggled throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “The zoo filled up very quickly when we were there, so it was big influx of people for the zoo that day. It would’ve been a quiet day for them had we not been there.

“When we were handing out these MWT goody bags (including colouring and puzzle books, crayons, etc.), the schools felt very appreciate of that, which was great.

“We had the kids going round with Hi-Viz vests on with MWT bags on their backs. It was quite cute looking at them walking off around the zoo.

“We told them all to go an approach Georgia and not be shy, and she said loads of people had been up to talk to her and have a photograph with her medals, so that went down even better than we thought that would.

“Its been good for us as well. The staff are all pleased to see the money they’ve raised has gone to something they could be part of as well, rather than just handing over money.

“It was good that we were involved in it from start to finish, from raising the money to actually seeing the kids enjoying it on the day. That was quite important, really.”

Ray Herbert, owner and founder of Happy Faces, was similarly delighted to play a key role in such a successful day, and said the money donated to his charity will go some way towards paying for a minibus for Ysgol Y Gogarth in Llandudno.

He and Mike are also planning to host an event like this again next year, though hopefully on a larger scale.

Ray added: “It was very good; they all saw the flying display of the birds, and the seals and penguins performing. I was on the gates until they all got there and had a wander round and took some photos.

“We’re going to have a substantial amount left over; we’re trying to buy a minibus for Ysgol Y Gogarth, so we’ll put it towards that because it’s going to cost us about £23,000. We’ve been raising for about two to three months now and it’s been hard, but I think we’ve got about £5-6,000 now.

“Mike and I had a chat, and we’re going to make it an annual event now, but next year, throw it over to other companies and try and make a lot more money so we can take a lot more (children) there.

“It helps the zoo as well, because they’re struggling.”