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∙ 8 West Close ∙ Swinton ∙ North Yorkshire ∙ YO17 6SZ

www.charlies-angels.org.uk

“Prayers for Charlie Mortimer”

Charlie Mortimer

Memorial Fund

 Registered charity No: 1145715

We are writing this letter fully aware that you will be receiving hundreds of similar ones this year,

however, we hope you will read this one and feel able to donate whatever you can for Charlie’s

memorial fund.

Very briefly, our third son, Charlie, was born on 11 th August 2009. On 13th August 2009 he became very

ill, very suddenly and died on the paediatric Intensive care unit at Leeds General infirmary on August

15th. We found out a week later that Charlie died due to a rare metabolic condition – MCADD.

We were, and still are, truly devastated by our loss. However, we set up ‘living memorial fund’ in

Charlie’s name to ensure that his short life can continue to have a positive influence on so many lives.

We have already raised in excess of £38,000 and in February last year, we became a registered charity.

Charlie’s fund aims to help families in similar situations to our own, families with critically ill children,

bereaved parents and families affected by MCADD. The fund has purchased a large book box for the

Leeds General Infirmary Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), to encourage families to read to their verysick children (see above picture). A large part of the money has also refurbished two family rooms in

the PICU where we stayed with Charlie and we have also purchased a specialist cot to nurse babies and

children with catastrophic brain injury. We have also funded two MCADD conferences organised by

CLIMB (www.climb.org.uk), the world’s leading organisation that researches all metabolic conditions,

and helps to support families like ours that have been affected by such rare disorders, including

MCADD. Since our last auction, we have had another son, Leo. Leo also has MCADD so we

have become a family that is living with MCADD on a daily basis and have seen first hand thelegacy that Charlie has given all families living with MCADD. Finally, We have also funded two

‘days for bereaved parents’ run by care for the family (www.careforthefamily.org.uk/bpn).

My reason for writing this letter is that we are organising our second fund raising auction night on

Saturday 3rd August at The Milton rooms, Malton and we are asking for donations for the evening –ANYTHING! Our last auction raised over £8000. Whether it be tickets, signed items, vouchers, hampers,

flowers, gifts – ANYTHING! We are happy to pick up any donations if you can e mail, phone or post us

the details of yourdonation. We will gratefully acknowledge any donation that you give.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter and I really look forward to receiving your

response.

Yours faithfully,

Stephen and Davina Mortimer

 

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 The Charlie Mortimer Fund

8 West Close

Swinton, Malton

 YO17 6RA

www.charliemortimerfund.co.uk 

“Charlie was born on August 11th 2009 with a rare metabolic condition - MCADD. Since

his unexpected death, Charlie's family and friends have raised over £34,000 to help other

people in similar situations....... thank you for being part of 

Charlie's incredible journey.” 

To read more up-to-date information about the Charlie Mortimer Memorial fund, please see

www.facebook.com “Prayers for Charlie Mortimer” or visit the above website.

What does the fund aim to achieve?

The purpose of Charlie's fund is simple, it is a way of ensuring Charlie's life is a

living memorial. The fund aims to help families in similar situations to our own whether that

be families affected by a metabolic disease, families that have been bereaved of theirchildren or families that are being cared for on the PICU in the Leeds General Infirmary.

Who do we support?

Leeds General Infirmary Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Charlie was cared for on this unit and died on 15th August 2009 in their family room. The

first project that Charlie's fund enabled was the much needed refurbishment of this room.

This room has given families in desperate situations a little more peace and comfort. Wehave also provided a large book chest to enable parents to read to their critically ill child.

Reading books to Charlie was the only thing we felt we could do for him when professionals

and machines were doing everything else. 2012 saw the full refurbishment of the second

family room and we also purchased a specialist mattress for caring for children and babieswith brain injuries; the platform cost almost £4000, a huge amount of money, however, we

have been contacted by several families who have used this unit and the lives that have beenhelped by this one donation make it more than worthwhile! We continue to support the unitas they require, and we receive so much encouragement from families we may never meet,

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but have been touched by Charlie‟s little life. Here is an extract from a recent letter (names

and dates have been removed to protect confidentiality).

“... You do not know us, we have never met. The first time we heard about the tragic story of your precious baby boy, Charlie, was the first time we came into contact with Noah‟s ark and

the mountains of books enclosed. On.... Our first beautiful daughter was admitted to Leeds

PICU. She was diagnosed with bronchoilitis – a condition that affects babies lungs. For 40days, she showed so much strength. Courage, bravery and determination. Tragically, her lungs

were so damaged that the doctors could not save her. She went to sleep, aged 10 weeks. We

wanted you to know that Charlie‟s book box helped us as parents to sit by her bedside day in

day out and read her stories. As grieving parents we wanted to let you know that what youhave achieved in Charlie‟s memory, helping others, is truly inspiring. Times are hard, we are

on an emotional roller coaster, good and bad weeks, but what you show to us is that there is

hope and people can come through tragedy.” 

Care for the Family (CFF)

As a family, we received much support from this organisation. They have a bereaved parent‟s network and organise various days and weekends around the country for bereaved parents to

attend and receive support, enable parents to share their experiences and give time to talk

about their lost children. They have a wonderful website (www.careforthefamily.org.uk/bpn)full of useful information for families and friends who have been affected by the loss of a

child. Charlie's fund donated a substantial amount of money to Care for the Family to ensure

that their invaluable support for parents like us, continues. CFF are very grateful for our

support and have been able to use Charlie's Fund money to partly subsidise days andweekends for bereaved parents during 2012. The focus group have agreed to solely fund a

day for bereaved parents in 2013. CFF, along with many charities, are struggling to fund such

days and were having to cancel 4 days next year – we have been able to ensure that bereavedparents in the north of England will be able to have the support of this day on their

bereavement journey; this will cost £3250!

CLIMB

CLIMB are a national organisation working on behalf of children, young people, adults andfamilies affected by metabolic disease. Their purpose is to provide Metabolic Disease

specific information, advice and support to children, young people, adults, families and

professionals in the United Kingdom and to provide information and support to families

worldwide, to fund educational and primary research programmes and to investigate

treatments and medical services. With the help of Charlie‟s money, CLIMB have published an

MCADD website and are holding an annual MCADD conference. We had the privilege of

attending the first MCADD conference in October 2011 and were overwhelmed by the

gratitude of families and professionals that attended. The conference was attended by

families affected by MCADD, nurses, researchers, professors and Doctors from across theworld who shared their MCADD knowledge, experiences and research. We also shared our

personal experience of MCADD and were the first to speak at the conference – how amazing!Charlie‟s tiny life is having such an inspirational influence. In 2012/13, CLIMB are

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also using Charlie‟s fund to improve life for families living with MCADD by changing the mainprotocols and guidelines and translating them into the major European languages so that

families can download copies to take with them on holiday.

How does Charlie’s Fund function? 

2012 began with „The Charlie Mortimer Fund‟ becoming a registered charity. We werethrilled when we received the paperwork and, although managing a registered charity takes a

lot of time and effort, we believe that it will ensure that the fund runs appropriately, legally

and safely. We are also now registered with Virgin ‟s „Just giving‟ website so hopefully this

will encourage easier and more secure giving for sponsored events.

Sort Code: 40 31 08 Account Number: 41475622

Registered charity number: 1145715

Structure of Charlie‟s Fund:

Executive – Mrs Davina Mortimer

Fund Trustees – Dr Matthew Law, Mr Stephen Mortimer, Mrs Kathryn Wileman, Mrs CarolineCleghorn.

Charlie‟s Fund Steering/ Planning group: Ian & Linda Beecham, Christian & Victoria Lewis,

Ryan & Wileman, Neil & Amanda Beecham, Nicola & Jason Leek, Elise Gowing, Caroline

Ledgard, Joanne Suckling, Jen Riley, Craig & Clare Beecham, Paul & Alex Mortimer, Rebecca

Law, Annie Brown.

(if you would like to be involved in this group or would like more info, simply send us an emailthe group meet on a triennial basis to discuss/ plan/ manage/ share and support the fund)

How does the fund raise money?

We raise money by various means! In the past we have held several concerts, tombola‟s,

summer BBQ‟s, Small stalls, a huge auction, Black Dyke brass band concert, friends and

family have run various marathons, climbed the three peaks and cycled coast to coast!! Thislist is by no means exhaustive!

If you feel that you can help support our work in Charlie‟s memory, please don‟t hesitate to

contact us! I have attached a brief breakdown of our finances for your information.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this information

Davina Mortimer

 The Charlie Mortimer Fund Executive