Star opens charity shop for tragic tot
FUNDRAISING STORES SET UP BY BOY’S GRIEVING PARENTS
THE parents of a toddler who died after fighting an undiagnosed condition have launched their latest charity venture on what would have been his sixth birthday.
Charlie Cookson passed away in October 2013 aged just 30 months.
His parents, Sarah and Chris, set up the Charlie Cookson Foundation (CCF) in his memory to give financial support to parents of poorly children who require 24-hour care.
And yesterday, the charity’s third shop was officially opened by Steps star Faye TozerSmith.
Faye, who is patron of CCF, cut the ribbon and opened the doors of the South Shields shop to trade for the first time.
The store, in the Denmark Centre, was opened on what would have been little Charlie’s sixth birthday.
It marks a huge achievement for the charity that started in Sarah and Chris’s living room. The CCF aims to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by parents and carers of children with life-limiting conditions. Faye Tozer-Smith is best known as a singer with pop group Steps who sold over 25 million records worldwide. She has also starred in a number of stage productions including Andrew Lloyd Weber’s one woman musical Tell Me on a Sunday. Steps recently reunited and Faye will be part of their Party on the Dancefloor tour later this year. Charlie Cookson died on October 29, 2013 after fighting an undiagnosed condition almost all of his life. Ecoli, meningitis and epilepsy are just a few of the diseases that Charlie’s tiny body fought. Charlie was born on 13 April, 2011 and suffered a number of serious diseases in the early months of his life. Even after Charlie was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2012, his mum and dad were left without answers. He received support from the Chronicle’s Sunshine fund and the Alan Shearer Foundation.
Faye, who is patron of CCF, cut the ribbon and opened the doors of the South Shields shop to trade for the first time