Crystal: a fairy godmother to sick children

Crystal: a fairy godmother to sick children

PRIDE IN OLDHAM: 

A CHADDERTON mum who makes fairytale dreams come true for sick children has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Crystal Faulkner (29) is Oldham’s real-life fairy godmother after setting up her business Princess Impersonations four years ago.

At the time the mum-of-three heard about a family who had to cancel a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland because their child was too ill to travel. That night, Crystal decided she would dress up as a fairytale princess for the child, and this was followed by visits to charities in full fancy dress.

When people started to request princess visits for private parties, she turned the idea into a successful business which currently employs seven staff.

Voluntary work is still at the heart of her work and Crystal regularly visits children in hospital, attends charity events at no cost and visits terminally-ill youngsters.

She supports a number of local charities including Oldham-based Jamie’s Something Special and hosts a special Christmas event for Reuben’s Retreat.

She was nominated by colleague and fellow princess Rachel Goulding, who said: “Around Christmas time, she delivers advent calendars to local food banks around Manchester.

“She has visited a number of children who are terminally ill and cannot travel to Disneyland. And if she is not working, she is busy styling wigs and cleaning costumes as well as balancing life as a wife and mother.”

Crystal said: “I was a bit shocked to find out I’d been nominated — it’s quite a humbling experience.

“Being a mum myself, I can only imagine how heartbreaking it would be to have a poorly child.

“It’s such a nice experience to be able to help families and to make their children’s dreams come true in the comfort of their own homes.”

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