Having spent her first year in hospital, Charlene battled ill health and identity issues associated with adoption. Although she couldn’t change her circumstances she made choices that would impact others far away.
CHOSEN is a story of faith, hope and healing CHOSEN is a story that Charlene asked her brother to tell. CHOSEN documents the life of Charlene Barr and is written through the eyes of older brother David.
Charlene touched the lives of many through her courage in fundraising to build a school in Uganda whilst waiting for a lung transplant in 2010. The very day that Charlene was given the news she would need a double lung transplant to survive she said: “I know what I am going to do. If I can’t go to school, I am going to raise money to build a school in Uganda so that some of the children there can get an education”.
People from all walks of life, young and old got behind her fundraising and she had raised the £70,000 needed in just 5 months. There is much more to Charlene’s story than just the selfless fundraising during her terminal illness. Having spent her first year in hospital, Charlene battled ill health and also identity issues associated with adoption.
David as he writes is very honest about all these difficulties Charlene faced and the impact her battles had on her and all the family. Although Charlene never saw her school built as she died just before the building of Hidden Treasure started, Charlene’s Project continues her work with 3 schools and other projects ongoing in Uganda and development work about to begin this summer in Guatemala.
Charlene had very big ambitions and dreams and Charlene’s Project continues to fulfil those ambitions and dreams through the support of so many people in Ireland and across the world.
CHOSEN is a story that will inspire and challenge the reader as it honestly tells a personal story of faith, hope and healing. ..sometimes the things we can’t change, end up changing us..