1 Daddy. 3 Snowmen. 3 Peaks
Release Date: 19th September 2020
THE WIRRAL 19 September 2020: Today would have marked Charlie’s second birthday. Devastated Daddy and volunteer NEWSAR mountain rescue team member Andy Rooke, is using his grief to take on one of the UK’s most unique challenges in memory of his son Charlie. During Charlie’s horrific ordeal with the ultra-rare genetic condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1, ‘The Snowman’ was one thing that bought a smile to Charlie’s face. To honour Charlie’s love of The Snowman, Andy will be building Charlie a snowman on the top of each of the UK's three peaks.
Andy and Sarah want to do something to give back to Claire House Children’s Hospice and raise £25,000 for the hospice that went above and beyond when caring for their terminally ill son. They helped make lasting memories and provided respectful and amazing end of life care. In February 2022 (delayed a year due to COVID-19 restrictions), Andy is on a mission to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon and building a snowman on top of each in the dedication of his son Charlie.
Andy commented “On 25th February 2020 we had our long-planned trip to the Blue Planet Aquarium - knowing this was our last day with Charlie was gut-wrenching. Later that evening, listening to The Snowman music, Sarah and I both held Charlie tightly as he peacefully passed away, we'd never see those big beautiful blue eye's again. We can’t thank Claire House Children’s Hospice enough, for looking after us and Charlie both in life and once he gained his angel wings. That is why I want to give back and set up #CharliesSnowman.”
Charlie had a rare genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1. He lived beyond his life expectancy of 13 months, unfortunately losing his battle in February 2020 aged just 17 months following a sharp deterioration of his respiratory and autonomic nerve functions. The Snowman film brought him huge joy and put a twinkle in his eye and also comforted Charlie during his final hour of life. He also loved his football club Everton who paid tribute to Charlie on their 1st July 2020 game against Leicester City. Towards the end, only his beloved Igglepiggle could give him cuddles, as moving him would mean his lungs could collapse.
As a huge thank you to Claire House Children’s Hospice for the most thoughtful and important care given in Charlie’s last months, Andy hopes to raise £25,000 to ensure they can do the same for more families in this incredibly difficult position.
Get involved:
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Donate to Andy’s cause https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-rooke2
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Anyone around the world can build a snowman in memory of Charlie and post to social media with #CharliesSnowman
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Support Andy by donating and joining our monthly challenges leading up to the #CharliesSnowman event – share your photos along the way with #CharliesSnowman and find out how to get involved - https://www.charliessnowman.com/join-and-support-andy
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For press and media enquiries, please contact team@internationalbunch.com and 01792 851211. Speak to Lou directly +44 7951 571314
Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-rooke2
Twitter: @AndyRooke3
Facebook: @CharliesSnowman
Website: https://www.charliessnowman.com/
A selection of photos are available at https://www.charliessnowman.com/gallery-and-video-library
Claire House Children’s Hospice helps seriously and terminally ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing back a sense of normality to family life. By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support we help families smile again when life couldn’t get any tougher.