DEVOTED DAD TAKES ON SNOWMAN CHALLENGE IN MEMORY OF HIS SON
Andy Rooke , 38 , is to set off on the Snowman Challenge , to build a seven-foot snowman on the top of each of the Three Peaks - Ben Nevis , Scafell Pike and Snowdon .
The challenge hopes to raise £ 25,000 for Claire House Children ’ s Hospice . The hospice cared for his son , Charlie , who sadly died in February 2020 at just 17 months old , after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disease .
“ Charlie had a short life but I ' d like to leave a legacy to help other kids . The memories we have wouldn ' t have been possible without Claire House , so I decided to fundraise for them ,” said Andy .
hoping to climb Snowdon in the last week of February , which will be the two-year anniversary of when Charlie passed away ,” he added .
Since coming up with the Challenge , Andy has had lots of support , including someone who gave him £ 100 when he was on a practice trip up Snowdon . “ I ’ ve really appreciated all the donations and good wishes I ’ ve received . I walked three quarters of the way up Snowdon to practice building a seven-foot snowman .”
Andy , who is from Prenton , Wirral , came up with the challenge after Charlie ’ s death . “ My partner and I worried that Charlie would be forgotten about and there would be nothing to remember him by . As I walk up a lot of mountains this seemed like a fitting tribute .”
“ I came up with idea to build a snowman as we had the Snowman video on all the time we stayed in Paediatric Intensive Care for many months . We also played The Dance of The Snowman when Charlie had his swim in the Claire House Hydrotherapy pool , this was on our bucket list of experiences we wanted for him . Charlie gently passed away to The Snowman at Claire House and we also played it at his funeral . It makes me feel connected to him .”
Andy ’ s gruelling challenge will see him at the mercy of the winter weather . “ I am climbing the Peaks with a small group of friends , some are also fellow volunteer Mountain Rescue Team Members . Another of my friends hasn ’ t done anything like this before . I expect the first mountain , Ben Nevis , will take about five hours to climb and if the weather ’ s not too bad , the snowman will take a couple of hours to build ,” he said .
“ We ’ ve had to do lots of planning , as there is lots that can go wrong . Sometimes the fresh snow can come up to your knees , which can make things difficult . It ’ s very dependent on the weather but I ’ m
Mark Pearson , who works at Claire House said : “ We are very grateful to Andy for all the hard work he is putting into raising vital funds for Claire House . The money he raises will help us reach out to more families like the Rooke ’ s who desperately need support .”
To donate to Andy ’ s Challenge you can visit his JustGiving Page at : justgiving . com / fundraising / andrew-rooke2 wirrallife . com 23