Woman swaps life for charity
CLAIRE Wilkinson is giving up her husband for three days to colleague Katie Hall.
Claire is moving out of the family home in Dormer Avenue, Tamworth, to let Katie take on the role of wife to husband Matthew – all in the name of charity.
Claire, 25, will become single again, while 26-year-old Katie will also be temporary mother to three-year-old Beth and eight-month-old Harvey.
The two customer service reps at TNT are taking part in a “life swap” to raise cash for deserving causes as part of the group’s 30th birthday celebrations.
Katie said: “Everything Claire does I will do, within reason.
“Matthew will be sleeping with the children – they have a spare bed in their room – and I will be in their bed.”
She added: “I’m really looking forward to it. I’m not particularly maternal, although I do like children. This will be completely different to what I am used to.
“I will be doing all the ironing, cooking and household duties. It will be a real challenge looking after the children, but I’m confident that I can cope.”
Katie, of Polesworth, near Tamworth, said Claire would, by contrast, “have it easy” living as a singleton looking after pets and having time for shopping and socialising.
“I said to Katie ‘you would never be able to cope with my lifestyle – why don’t you give it a go?’
“Katie comes round to our house quite a lot, we are quite close friends. My husband said as long as we are happy with the arrangement, that’s fine. But it will tug at the heartstrings a bit being away from the children.”
Claire aims to raise money for Macmillan Nurses and St Giles Hospice through next week’s life swap while Katie is supporting Farm Africa and animal charity WSPA.
All staff at the Atherstone-based transport group are being urged to take part in a 30-30-30 challenge throughout September, raising cash for the UK’s top 30 charities.
TNT, which launched in Atherstone in 1978, is aiming to raise £30,000 during the month of fund-raising.
