A kind-hearted mother has taken her Christmas spirit one step further this year by dressing up as an elf 24 hours a day for charity. Charlie Brian, 35, will even wear the festive costume while she's out shopping and doing school runs, Leicester Mercury reports.
Charlie is raising money for Wishes 4 Kids this Christmas, a charity who support children and young people who are terminally ill or have been through some sort of life-changing physical or emotional damage. The mum-of-four, from Leicester Forest East, who's dubbed herself as 'Charlie the Elf' has a series of green elf outfits looked out to wear every day from November 28 to Christmas Day.
The dedicated Xmas fanatic has vowed to wear her Santa's little helper costume all day long for a month straight, regardless of whether she's on the school run, at the gym or even sleeping. Wishes 4 Kids has helped thousands of children across the country and provides them with amazing memories and experiences.
The devoted mother was inspired to raise money over the Christmas period for less fortunate children to help give them amazing experiences all year round.
She said: "It's a vitally important Leicestershire charity which helps give once-in-a-lifetime experiences to the children that need it the most. Being a mum of four, I know what it's like to see a kid who receives something they really want as a gift - whether it's a birthday or Christmas - the joy in their faces is something that has no comparison.
"I want to help raise money so the charity can help bring that joy to kids that have been through difficult times and deserve happy memories. I will be dressing up as a Christmas elf for four weeks, and everything I do will be in an elf costume other than showering and getting changed.
"I've even bought some elf pyjamas to sleep in because the costumes I am wearing through the day are way too warm for sleep. There's going to be plenty of times I'll be going out of the house, I'm a full-time carer to one of my children so there's a few hospital appointments I'm going to, as well as the school run and going to the gym.
"It's building up to Christmas, too, so I will be going to the shops a lot more as we prepare for Christmas Day." To make elf life a bit easier for Charlie, she will have two costumes as well as some elf pyjamas meaning she is not wearing the same outfit every day for a month straight.
Despite her older children initially being embarrassed by her proposal, her generous fundraising idea has now gone down very well with them. Charlie continued: "Louie, my five-year-old, thinks it's an absolutely brilliant idea, while my older children, Robyn, 12, Remi, 11, and Leo, 9, have said they're going to be mortified when I pick them up on the school run.
"But at the same time I think they will be quietly proud of me for doing it for such a good cause. They also told me it's something they'd expect me to do - which I'm not sure how to take!
"I am very much the odd one in the house, though, so I see where they're coming from. My husband, however, initially joked he would leave the day before and come back after Christmas! But he's on board with me doing it, now, too."
You can donate to Charlie's fundraiser here.
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