This is the eighth year Kelly Simpson has embarked on her festive plan to wear a different Christmas sweater each day through December, to support MDUK.
Kelly’s annual challenge started to support Joe Driffield, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Kelly Simpson, 40, and from Northallerton, began fundraising for the charity to support family friend Susanne Driffield, whose 11-year-old son Joe lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The progressive condition causes muscles to weaken and waste over time, leading to increasing and severe disability. It affects not only muscles used for movement, but also the heart and vital breathing muscles, cutting lives short.
Kelly’s festive fundraiser has raised nearly £3,000. She has amassed an impressive collection over the years that feature reindeers, Father Christmas, elves and bells. Her annual Christmas fundraiser is warmly supported by her friends and colleagues at North Yorkshire Police, where she works as a systems administrator.
Along the way Kelly has been supported by her three festive-mad nieces, as well as inspiring much younger Christmas fans to take parts.
Kelly said:
The Christmas jumper challenge is my own unique way of supporting a very special little boy, Joe, and his family who I love with all my heart.
Kelly’s fundraising efforts even inspired Joe’s mum, Susanne, to seek employment with MDUK.
Susanne, who is MDUK’s North East and Yorkshire Regional Development Manager, said:
We are so grateful to Kelly for her continued support of both us as a family and MDUK. She approaches this challenge every year with such enthusiasm and it gets everyone into the Christmas spirit.
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