Kind stranger makes dream come true for Charlie, four

Little Charlie Charman, from Bracklesham Bay, will have a permanent reminder of this summer’s Big Hoot art trail in Chichester and Arundel after a kind stranger presented him with one of the owls as a gift.

Charlie, four, fell in love with all the owls and loved finding them with his parents, James and Sophie.

James says: “Naturally, he was drawn to Chester as the mascot of the event. He was so pleased to win a medal for completing the trail and he cuddled the Big Hoot plushie to sleep every night.” When the family attended the farewell weekend at Arundel Cathedral Centre, Charlie cried because he was never going to see the owls again. “He kept asking if they’d fly back to see him,” says James.

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The trail was in aid of local children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House and one of the charity’s volunteers, Clare Bolger, was working at the event. She noticed how much Charlie loved the owls, and when she won Chester in the raffle, she decided to give it to him. Clare said: "The owls seemed to make Charlie so very happy.

Sophie, James and Charlie with volunteer Clare and Chester the owlplaceholder image
Sophie, James and Charlie with volunteer Clare and Chester the owl

“When I found out I had won Chester, I was excited – but I couldn’t forget the little boy at the farewell event. I spoke with my husband and we both thought it would be wonderful to make that little boy very happy. I loved Chester but felt that Charlie needed him more than I ever would..

“When Charlie found out he was going to be taking Chester home, he was overjoyed and ran up to give him a big hug,” says James.

“Chester is currently living in our sitting room and will be donning a hat and scarf to oversee the Christmas celebrations. “We loved The Big Hoot because it got us out and about within two of our favourite local places and allowed us to visit parts of Arundel and Chichester we wouldn’t have seen on a normal day trip.”

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The Big Hoot raised more than £160,000 for Chestnut Tree House, which cares for children and young people with life-limiting conditions in Sussex and South East Hampshire.

The charity’s Deputy Chief Executive, Becki Jupp, said: “It costs almost £6m to provide our care services, with only 21 per cent of that coming from government. For the rest, we rely on the generous support of our community. It has been so lovely to see local engagement with The Big Hoot, and we hope those who enjoyed it will become hospice supporters in the future.”

To support Chestnut Tree House, go to chestnut.org.uk

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