Big-hearted kids donate their pocket money to raise cash for Xmas cheer
Instead of waiting for Father Christmas to come down their chimney, these children have played Santa themselves – helping the homeless, sick, animals and more
CHRISTMAS is a time for giving – and few will have given as much as these big-hearted kids.
Instead of waiting for Father Christmas to come down their chimney, these five children have played Santa themselves – donating their own pocket money and raising cash to help the homeless and feed neglected animals.
Here, as part of our Smiles at Christmas campaign, NIKKI WATKINS and CLARE O’REILLY meet the children who show they have not forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
‘Animals can’t speak for themselves’
DESPITE her tender years, Storm Burgess, 11, has raised a whopping £10,000 for animal welfare sanctuaries.
This Christmas she has also collected donations of cat food to help The Sheffield Cats Shelter feed strays. Over two years she has handed over a staggering 1,000 packets. She also donates her weekly £5 pocket money.
Storm from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, says: “My friends sometimes ask me if I ever want to keep any of the money I raise for myself, but it’s so important it all goes to the animals.
“Animals can’t speak for themselves. It’s our job to make sure they are looked after.
Full-time mum Tracy, 45, says: “She won an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare. I’m so proud but at the ceremony she ordered me not to cry.”
To make donations, visit .
‘I’m lucky – not everyone has family’
AFTER seeing people sleeping rough on the streets, five-year-old Jack Johnson started a campaign to get people he knows to donate clothes to help keep them warm.
Jack, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, says: “I’m lucky to have a mummy and daddy and my brother Frankie, who is two.
“Not everyone has a family to look after them and not everyone has something to open at Christmas.”
His proud office worker mum Chelsea Pearson, 24, says: “He uses his own pocket money too and has spent £50 buying gloves, hats, socks, tooth-brushes, wipes and crisps.
“He has done bags for homeless people with dogs too which include pet blankets.
“He has always been selfless. He wants to be a policeman because he wants a job where he can help people.”
Help make more Smiles
WE are currently running our Smiles at Christmas campaign to help needy children at home and abroad.
In the biggest charity campaign we have ever run at The Sun, we have been calling for readers to donate toys and money to benefit four charities. Scotty’s Little Soldiers helps out kids who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces, providing financial and emotional support to hundreds of kids. Children With Cancer helps families who have an infant battling the disease and also funds medical research. The Amar Foundation works in the Middle East to help women and children in crisis. It is particularly active in Iraq at the moment. Women’s Aid represents refuges that offer accommodation to women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse. Toys donations are now closed and we have been busy this week delivering them to the charities, hospitals, hospices and directly to some of the kids we have featured in the campaign. It is not too late to donate cash – see the panel below.
‘My family had it rough as refugees’
SHAYNA THAKRAR is only 11 but has spent the last two festive holidays helping others.
After older brother Eashan, 18, set up The Youth Project charity, Shayna wanted to do her bit – so spent the year collecting for the homeless and helping in an Indian slum.
Shayna says: “My mummy and daddy always tell me stories about how they had a rough time growing up as refugees from Uganda in East Africa.
“When I see people in need I always think it could have been my family who needed the help.”
Mum Sonal, 46, from Stanmore, North West London, says: “In 2014 she spent time in a slum in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, helping to teach children sports.
“She also takes part in homeless drives to collect donations. She is a lovely girl and appreciative of even the smallest things.”
To donate to The Youth Project visit .
‘I want to join police to help others’
MOVED by the plight of homeless people in his home town, six-year-old William Cassanell wanted to provide essentials to keep them warm.
After raising cash with a sponsored silence, he made care packages of sleeping bags, gloves, hats, scarves and socks and handed them out to people sleeping rough in Hull.
William, main picture, says: “I can be a bit shy but I loved packing the parcels and giving them out to people.
“I want to be a vet and a policeman when I grow up because I like the thought of helping people and animals.”
Proud full-time dad Matthew, 28, says: “He’s a determined little lad so when he decided on a sponsored silence he went through with it and raised £200.”
To make donations, visit .
‘A way to thank grandad’s hospice’
CARING Ryan Bickle, 11, has raised more than £2,000 for charity since losing his grandad Jeff to multiple system atrophy (MSA) in 2014.
He sold lemonade and loom band bracelets to fellow pupils, raising £80 for the hospice that looked after his grandfather.
Ryan, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has also raised £700 for flood victims by carol singing and does gardening for neighbours in return for donations to the local food bank.
Ryan, with TV host Susanna Reid after being nominated for an award, says: “It started with my grandad – I wanted to thank the people who helped him.”
Proud mum Donna, 34, a hairdresser, says: “Christmas was a special time for Ryan with his grandad. Hopefully he has been able to ease difficult times for another family at Christmas.”
To help tackle MSA, donate at .
Give cash
Online:
Text: To give £2, text KIDS55 2 to 70070. You can change the amount to £3, £4, £5 or £10 by changing the last figure to 3, 4, 5 or 10.
Post: Send a cheque, made payable to JustGiving Foundation, to JustGiving The Sun Appeal, Bluefin Building 2nd Floor, London SE1 0TA
Give toys
You can donate new or used toys in good condition at 1,370 branches of McColl’s convenience stores.
Toys “R” Us will accept new toys only — look for special Sun trolleys near entrances.
Tell pals
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Or tweet using #SmilesAtChristmas to let us know how you’re getting involved!