Charlie's Star Charity launch 'Cheers to Charlie'

Saturday, 6 April 2024 01:00

A charity covering the South West of England with strong connections to Salisbury has launched a new fundraising campaign called Cheers to Charlie.

The charity was set up five years ago in memory of Charlie Burns, who died suddenly aged 10. The reason for his death was given as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), a silent killer.

Charlie's Parents, Barrie and Jan Burns have turned their pain into positive action. First, they raised money for Salisbury District Hospital's Stars Appeal and Wiltshire Air Ambulance and, more recently, founded the charity.

So far, they have raised an excess of £120,000 and highlighted SUDEP.

The charity provides holiday breaks for bereaved families, paying for their travel, accommodation, food and local excursions. They say that none of us can change what has happened, but we can make their lives a little easier together.

Charlie's Star is now launching a new 'growing fundraiser', Cheers to Charlie, with the idea of many small social gatherings that spread and raise a large amount of money.

The idea is simple: You invite five friends to a social occasion. They each agree to pay £5 to come and also agree to host their own social gathering. In doing this, the events and gatherings spread.

Ali Greenwood, a trustee at Charlie's Star Charity, said, "Our charity has been running for five years this year, and so we wanted to do something that lots of people could be involved in without too much effort but a good amount of fun and socialising."

Cheers to Charlie launches at the Royal George on Bedwin Street in Salisbury on Thursday, 11th April, at 7 pm.

Find out more about Charlie's Star Charity here - https://www.charliesstar.org/

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