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Thursday 10th March 2011
Interview on Echo Radio Station (Click on logo below)

March 2011 - LOCALS RALLY TOGETHER TO HELP CHARLIE’S CHALLENGE
Debbie Murphy of The Royal Oak, Reading Road, Yateley and her friends have pledged to raise money for a life changing operation for brave little Yateley boy, Charlie Adams (age 5), who lives with Cerebral Palsy.
Debbie and her team, Caroline Hinton and Joanna Worboys also from Yateley are holding a fundraising event at The Royal Oak on Friday 15 April 2011 from 7pm. There will be live music, a raffle, auction and much more! Our photo showslocal barmaid Debbie raising a glass to success with her colleague Charlie Graham.
Charlie was born 10 weeks early and his condition means that he is unable to walk unaided and relies upon his walker to keep him mobile. Charlie has a wonderful, loving personality. And there is hope…
“Charlie has been accepted by St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri in the USA for an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) which could change his life forever and hopefully enable him to walk without any assistance. He is on the waiting list for July 2011.” Says Debbie “We need to raise between £50,000 - £60,000 for the SDR operation and would greatly appreciate any help that anybody or any local businesses are able to give.”

And Says Debbie, “I’ve known the family for many years and when Charlie’s mum and dad, Louise and Mark Adams, told me that Charlie had been offered this life changing operation, I knew I had to help. I thought an event at the pub where I work would be perfect. We have decided to charge £10 entry to kick off the fundraising for Charlie and everyone is welcome. My boss even threw in a bucking bronco!”

“When Debbie asked us to help her raise money for Charlie, how could we refuse? What a brave little boy,” says Jo. “We have approached everyone we know to ask for raffle and auction prizes and have already had a great response. The power of facebook has also been amazing. We started a facebook event and invited all our friends. Since then we have had messages coming in from lots of different people, offering their help and services or auction and raffle prizes. It really is very exciting and Charlie’s mum and dad are thrilled with the support”

Debbie says, “We decided to widen our search for prizes and sent out a plea to larger companies asking for their help. The response has been absolutely amazing! We have been given tickets to many great children’s attractions keen to help and even an hour’s carriage ride through the New Forest! We have also been donated a signed England shirt, personal training sessions, beauty therapies & a makeover andphotographic session, which will go to auction on the night!”
Says Caroline, “I met Charlie at fireworks night in November last year and thought what a wonderful little boy he is. When Charlie’s Challenge popped up on facebook I instantly felt compelled to help.”

“I have enlisted the help of some of our clients and colleagues for the event” says Caroline. “I approached Print Room of London Road, Camberley to ask what they could do to help. They said they would print all of our event leaflets and posters free of charge! They had already printed some leaflets for Charlie’s Challenge and were happy to do some more. The kindness that everyone has shown is overwhelming and I know how much this means to Charlie and his family.”

If anybody has anything they would like to donate to Charlie’s Challenge please contact Caroline@dshpr.co.uk or join Charlies Challenge Step By Step Party on facebook, just type Charlies Challenge Step By Step Party into the facebook search.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Caroline Hinton at DSH Public Relations and Marketing on 01252 408820, email , www.dshpr.co.uk.

Caroline Hinton
DSH Public Relations
www.dshpr.co.uk
Tel: 01252 408820

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