Chester-le-Street boy, 11, raises £20,000 for Changing Faces

Charlie Graver, 11, from Chester-le-Street has had a number of reconstructive operations after a car crash left him with severe facial injuries at the age of four.

Charlie has since taken on several fundraising challenges raising nearly £20,000 for charity Changing Faces, who support people with visible differences.

Charlie's mother, Kimberley Graver, 37, said he has been fundraising for the charity since he was eight and began with the Mini Great North Run.

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Ms Graver said they decided to do another fundraiser in June 2020 during lockdown, and set a challenge for Charlie to run 1.7 to 1.8 miles a day across June, adding up to two marathons in distance over the period.

She said: "He's done a lot of training for that. He ran, it was all kinds of weathers, and he was just really dedicated.

"He was dedicated to all of his charities, bless him. He's just amazing.

"We're all just so proud of him for what he's done and what he's doing, and spreading awareness as well.

Charlie with mum Kimberley at Chester-le-Street Town FC doing Charlie's Angel challenge (Image: Kimberley Graver)

"He's so inspiring and he's almost raised £20,000 now for Changing Faces doing these challenges which is absolutely incredible.

"We never thought it would ever get that big, but it's something that we'll continue to do.

"We're his number one fans."

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She said he took part in a personalised Goggins challenge, joined by friends and family, where he ran 1.5 miles every two hours from 8am to 8pm on a Saturday and Sunday.

Charlie, an avid football fan, also took part in another challenge where he ran six miles from the ground of his local football club, Chester-le-Street Town FC, to the Angel of the North, before cycling back.

Ms Graver said she has acted as his cheerleader and training buddy through these efforts, while father, Michael, has also helped with training.

She said while Charlie has excelled, it was difficult in the beginning due to the incident and how people acted around her son.

Charlie (four-years-old) in the hospital after the crash (Image: Kimberley Graver)

She said: "At first, after the accident, with the trauma and shock of that, it was hard.

"It drew a lot of attention, a lot of unwanted attention really, especially at such a young age when he was just four.

"You'd get a lot of staring, people in supermarkets when you were waiting at the till, some people would just ask him, not to me, they would ask him.

"Just being a young child, [it] was horrible.

"He's learnt to deal with that from the help of Changing Faces. Now, if he wants to, he'll just say 'oh, I was in a car crash,' or if he sees someone staring at him, he just smiles at them and that sort of eliminates everything."

Ms Graver also praised her son for how kindhearted he has been, and said he is always looking to help others.

She also said her son has been shortlisted for the Northern Children of Courage Awards in the fundraising category, and is through to the finals taking place on May 12.

Nearly one in five people across the UK self-identify as having a visible difference such as a mark, scar or condition.

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Charlie after his most recent surgery (Image: Kimberley Graver)

At least 1.3 million children, young people and adults in the UK are estimated to have significant disfigurements, including 569,000 with facial disfigurements.

More information about visible difference and disfigurement can be found here.

If you want to support Charlie, you can donate here.