The 2010 Giving Tree

From Pam about the 2010 giving tree...

Since the great thaw began my door bell has been ringing all weekend with friends and family dropping off christmas presents for the children at the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton Hospital (the childrens cancer ward where Hannah was treated).

When Hannah was in over Christmas back in 2003 - she was given a pressie from the Ward Manager Jane Buchanan (who I'm still in regular contact with - regarding the both the holiday home and the Christmas delivery). Hannah was told that the pressie was from a "Giving Tree" - a local company had been given a list of poorly children, their first name, first initial of their surname and their age. Kind people then went out and bought a pressie to their budget, wrapped and tagged it.

Hannah was nearly in tears with her present - it wasnt what was in it but the kind gesture that a complete stranger had thought of her while out shopping and bought her a present. She told everyone that visited her, about the present which I remember to be a mug with her name on it, a big fluffy pen that lit up with her name on and some xmas chocolates. It was one of her favourite and most talked about presents that year. She even asked if we could organise a "Hannah and Adam's Giving Tree" with our friends and family so they could deliver them next year.

Sadly she passed away the following September so never got to fullfill her new fundraising venture. So Adam - her younger Brother and I organised it and have carried on this tradition ever since.

This year the weather has prevented lots of people going out as much and the recession has hit everyone quite hard with less money to spend, but the pile of pressies I had shows that at least Christmas Spirit is certainly in abundance.

I also write to every child on the list (over 80) in a Christmas Card, individually inviting them and their family personally, to get in touch and book a free holiday at the holiday home.

8th December:- The News Front page and Page 16 of The News.