Appeal to help improve the life of little Charlie
DAD TO TAKE ON SERIES OF DARES TO RAISE CASH FOR EQUIPMENT
CHARLIE Burridge has spent most of her life ‘locked’ in her own body due to a condition so rare it doesn’t have a name.
The youngster suffers from brain disorders, narcolepsy and cataplexy and had more than 2,600 seizures last year.
But this doesn’t stop her from being a typical seven-year-old loving anything to do with fashion and music.
Charlie’s scoliosis is getting worse, meaning she needs a second skin suit which will correct her spinal curvature, improve her posture and reduce the pressure on her lungs to help her breathe easier.
But these suits are not available on the NHS and can cost up to £1,000 – money which her parents Brian and Emma don’t have.
Now the couple, who are known for their charity work, are in need of some help to improve their daughter’s quality of life.
Dad-of-three Brian, 48, from Wallsend, said: “Our Charlie is a little fighter and loves having her family around her.
“She loves Little Mix and loves anything to do with fashion.
“But it’s tough on her. She gets tired quite easily and she’s dead self-conscious as she’s nearly an eight-year-old now.
“Charlie is tougher than us and she just gets on with it. With lockdown, she’s not been able to see physios, use communication aids and her scoliosis is getting worse so we need these second skin suits to help her.”
“Charlie can’t understand why she has to be straight so the suits will trick the brain through the use of pressure to help improve her posture, take the pressure off her lungs making her breathe easier and will hopefully help to keep her out of hospital.
“But these skin suits are really expensive and we can’t afford £1,000 every time as she will need a spare one to change with and as she grows she will need bigger sizes.”
After hearing about Charlie, Brian’s friend and volunteer Von Clarke came up with the idea to get Brian to do 48 sponsored Daddy Dares to help raise money for the suit.
From busking on Northumberland Street to performing a stand up comedy act, these are just a few dares that will push Brian out of his comfort zone all in aid to improve his daughter’s quality of life.
Brian, who founded North East Homeless, added: “With running North East Homeless, I give charity out to everyone but I can’t take it myself.
“I feel like when you have a bairn who is disabled and you need help, you feel like you’ve got your begging bowl out all the time. It doesn’t make you feel nice.
“I can’t sing and I’m not funny I’m just sarcastic, but if I can try to raise money in ways where I can have a laugh and feel more comfortable it will be worth it. But we hope the money raised will also go to other families like ourselves who can’t afford second-skin suits and equipment to help improve their child’s quality of life.”
To donate to Brian’s fundraising page, visit gofundme.com and search for ‘Charlie Loves’