Friends, family and the football world have rallied around Bristol football legend Marcus Stewart since he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, but his cousin is going a little bit further than most in her efforts to back the family’s appeal. Claire Case is planning on wearing a huge carrot costume - complete with inflatable green top - almost every minute of every day and night for seven days straight.
The 31-year-old will go to work, to the shops, to the gym, on the school run and to bed in her full-size, head-to-toe carrot costume. And is asking all of Bristol to sponsor her and donate to the charity appeal set up by Marcus’ wife Lou, following the announcement of his diagnosis.
Claire, from Hartcliffe, said with all the sadness surrounding Marcus’ announcement, she wanted to do something that will make everyone laugh - and the man himself especially.
Read more: 'A top goalscorer and a lovely man' – Football shows love for Marcus Stewart after MND diagnosis
The mum-of-one is planning to do the stunt in a couple of weeks’ time, and promises she will keep the carrot costume on no matter what. “All the school mums think I’m a bit crazy already, so I am not worried really,” she said.
“I’ll wear it all the time, day and night. The only time I’ll take it off is to wash. I’ll do everything I normally do, except I’ll be dressed as a carrot. I’ll go to work, go to church, go to the gym, do the gym classes, do the shopping, do the school run, everything,” she added.
“I just wanted to give everyone a laugh really, give everyone a lift. It’s been so hard for the whole family, I just really wanted to bring some laughter and smiles, and do something light-hearted and fun, and for other people to stop and ask so it will make people have a bit bigger conversation if they ask ‘why are you dressed in a carrot suit?’”
Claire’s mum and Marcus’ mum are sisters, and the family from Hartcliffe have always been close. Claire was a toddler when Marcus broke into the Bristol Rovers team as a youngster, and a child as he carved a career as a hero for fans of Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town and Sunderland, before ending his career at Bristol City, Preston, Yeovil and Exeter City.
The 49-year-old announced last month that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease after having a year of tests, and his wife Lou set up a fundraising page for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which has already raised an incredible £20,000.
For Claire, the diagnosis was a shock. “I grew up with Marcus being super-fit, super-healthy,” she said. “I looked up to him as a child and grew up as he was making his way in football. When he went to Ipswich, we’d go and visit and him and I thought he was great. He’s one of the most genuine, loving, humble and down-to-earth guys in the world, and he’s always really funny - so he’s loving this. He keeps sending me pictures of carrots after he heard what I’m doing,” she added.
Claire works as an AirBnB cleaner, so will be travelling all over Bristol as a carrot for that week at work, as well as doing the school run at the Bridge Learning Campus in South Bristol. “We’ve got a big family meal booked up for that week too, so a lot of people are going to see me in this thing,” she joked.
To donate to the appeal set up by Lou Stewart, on behalf of Marcus Stewart, click here.
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