My girl was in hospital at Xmas so I’m backing Sun campaign to bring festive joy

WHEN Toni Hanslow’s young daughter was in hospital during Christmas three years ago, she was thrilled to receive a present from Santa during his visit.

And that is why she bought some of The Sun on Sunday’s limited-edition charity Christmas cards this year, because proceeds from sales will go towards buying presents for young cancer patients staying in hospital right now.

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The cards, designed by readers’ children, are being sold by The Entertainer as part of our Christmas Cards for Kids campaign.

Toni, 35, who saw the cards while shopping with 11-year-old Daisy at her local Entertainer store in ­Stevenage, Herts, said: “Daisy was in hospital after suffering a burn to her arm in a kitchen accident.

“It happened five days before Christmas. We had to go back to a burns hospital in Essex over the Christmas period and she was given a present.

“It made such a difference to her, so me and her dad gave a donation as we could see what it would mean to the children who are stuck in hospital.

“When you hear about children in hospital over Christmas, you understand how important something like this is.

“You are saying to them, ‘We know you are there when you want to be home sitting around the tree, but people are still thinking of you’.”

Toni was shopping with Daisy and her other daughters Faith, four, and Angel, five.

Of our campaign, Daisy said: “It is a really nice idea.”

An average of 1,800 young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK, and they spend weeks, months or even years on wards.

So we have teamed up with Children With Cancer UK to spread some Christmas joy by taking Santa to hospitals throughout the country this month with presents bought with the proceeds from the cards.

Lorraine Newman, 70, who was in The Entertainer with her nine-year-old grandson Leo, has just had the all-clear from breast cancer.

She said: “That was two weeks ago. I am fine — no more chemo. It is so hard when you see the children in the cancer ward.

“A visit from Father Christmas with a present will really cheer them up.”

And Deirdre Hawes, 44, bought our cards with her son James, 11, when she spotted them at the till. She said: “They are lovely — really nice. It is a great cause.”

James added: “It is amazing because some children are really sad in hospital and this will help.”

Fellow shopper Harry Skelton, 28, said: “It is a brilliant idea”, while Joe Walters, 20, added: “I hope they raise a lot of money.”

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