HAPPY Erin McDougall proudly told Santa: “I’ve been really good, I promise," after receiving a gift thanks to big-hearted Sun on Sunday readers.
She is one of hundreds of kids in hospital with cancer this festive season who have been visited by Father Christmas and been given presents thanks to YOUR generosity in supporting our Christmas Cards For Kids campaign.
We asked our young readers to draw Christmas cards earlier this year and three winning designs were chosen to be sold by our campaign partner The Entertainer toy shops.
The money raised went towards treating little ones like four-year-old Erin, undergoing treatment at Manchester’s Christie Hospital.
Erin of Wishaw, North Lanarks, was diagnosed in September with ependymoma, a cancer of the central nervous system.
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
Dad Paul, 37, an electrician, said: “She was diagnosed on a Monday and by the Friday was having brain surgery.
"She’s been in for six weeks getting treatment, so it’s hard going.”
Mum Lorraine, 37, has been at Erin’s bedside with brother Lochlan, three, and says of Santa’s visit: “Seeing Erin so happy has been incredible.
"She adored it. We can’t thank everyone enough.”
Harper Walker, just 22 months, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April but was determined to play games with Santa when she met him in The Christie Hospital’s play room.
Her dad Adam, 37, a maths teacher, of Swinton, Grtr Manchester, says: “She won’t take no for an answer if she wants something, so I knew she’d have Father Christmas wrapped round her little finger.
"It’s been amazing to see her so happy and having so much fun.”
Our campaign, run in conjunction with Children With Cancer UK, also saw gifts delivered to the Highland Children’s Unit in Inverness and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
In Bristol, Santa cheered up two-year-old Mabel Luscombe, who has stomach cancer.
Mabel, from Dunkeswell, East Devon, was diagnosed in September and is having treatment to shrink the tumour so she can undergo surgery in the New Year.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
‘A lovely treat’
Her grandmother Sue Noye, 65, said: “Mabel is full of joy and seeing her with Santa has been wonderful.
"We just can’t thank The Sun on Sunday enough.”
At the same hospital, Lola Morris, five, taught Santa one of her favourite rhymes.
Lola, of Bristol, was diagnosed with leukaemia in September and needs a bone-marrow transplant.
Mum Amy, 32, who works for an investment firm, says: “She’s been so ill but seeing some of her sassiness coming back with Father Christmas was a lovely treat.
"Lola used to light up a room before she got sick, so seeing her so happy has been wonderful.”
Maddie McDonald has also endured more than any child should.
The seven-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June and has since had surgery which led to her losing her speech and the use of her left-hand side.
She has been to the Christie Hospital for proton beam therapy and is now having her second round of chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Mum Danielle Adams, 28, from Warwick, said: “Maddie is such a beautiful, special little girl.
"Seeing what she’s having to go through is awful.
"She adores Christmas and meeting Santa has been such a treat.
"We can’t thank everyone enough for making it possible.”
Hunnie Morris, 14, rang the end- of-treatment bell at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in 2020 after being diagnosed with leukaemia when she was eight — but it returned in October.
Mum Lucy, 46, of Kidderminster, Warks, said: “It’s so hard.
"She was just starting to enjoy life without cancer. Her hair had grown.
“Now she’s looking at treatment until she is 16.
"She’s not really had the chance of a normal life because her immune system has been so compromised with the chemo.”
Jo Elvin, CEO of Children With Cancer UK, said it was a “privilege” to partner with The Sun on Sunday and the families had “absolutely loved” it.
She added: “We hope all families affected by childhood cancer have similar moments of magic this Christmas.”
David Westman, from The Entertainer, said: “It has been fantastic to see the positive impact this campaign has had on children across the country.”
