Race Across The World winner Alfie Watts has spoken movingly about losing his mum, as he gives his backing to a child bereavement charity.

The 20-year-old St Albans native won the fourth series of the hit BBC show alongside childhood friend Owen Wood.

Now, he's supporting a cause close to his heart after losing his mum when he was just five years old.

He explains: “Shortly after I was born, when my mum was breastfeeding me, they discovered that there was an issue which turned out to be stage four breast cancer.

“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. 

"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.”

Winston's Wish was established in 1992 to offer support and guidance to young people dealing with bereavement.

Alfie said: “I think sometimes it’s hard for those who have had a ‘normal upbringing’ to understand that this is my normal. I personally feel very determined to not allow my mum’s death to stop me from moving ahead.

“Grief is a peculiar challenge, it’s difficult to empathise with unless you are in that circumstance, it’s not always easy to talk to friends about it because they haven’t been in that circumstance.

"I think this is why it’s so important that we have organisations, people who are there for support which is why I’m so pleased to be an ambassador for Winston’s Wish.

"As a charity, they do get what it’s like to be coping with bereavement and grief and make that support available to grieving young people.”

If you or someone you know needs support, Winston's Wishes can be contacted on 08088 020 021 or by emailing ask@winstonswish.org.