The story of Wayne Ingram MBE and Stefan Savic continues to inspire two decades on, and this week it was highlighted in the Metro newspaper.
Back in 2003, Wayne was serving as a peacekeeper in Bosnia when he was shown a photograph of Stefan, a four-year-old boy born with a rare facial cleft. Without urgent surgery, doctors feared Stefan would not survive.
Despite warnings that the task ahead would be “gargantuan,” Wayne launched a fundraising campaign that spanned 13 years, raising more than £160,000. The funds covered five life-changing operations—four at Great Ormond Street Hospital and one in Portland. Thanks to this effort, Stefan made a full recovery.
A Friendship That Endures
The Metro feature describes how Wayne and Stefan’s relationship has grown into something more than friendship. Today, Stefan is 27, working in a factory, performing in a folk band, and enjoying life with his girlfriend.
Wayne and Stefan remain in close contact, speaking regularly and meeting up whenever possible. As Wayne told the Metro:
“We are as close as you could possibly be for people living in different countries. We consider him family and there is definitely a lifelong bond. He helped me as much as I helped him. He is just a remarkable young man.”
Beyond the Fundraising
Wayne’s story with Stefan has since become part of his wider mission—raising awareness of PTSD among veterans and supporting children’s health causes, including scoliosis research following his daughter’s diagnosis. His recently published book, Soldier of Conscience, dives deeper into these experiences, with all royalties being donated to @scoliosis_sr and children’s charities.
Read the Full Feature
You can read the full article in the Metro here:
👉 Metro – Ex-soldier and boy he helped overcome deformity still pals after 20 years.
