AS Santa prepares to visit children being treated in hospital for cancer, Simon Cowell has urged our readers to help put more gifts on that sleigh.
The Britain’s Got Talent boss has backed our Christmas Wrapping For Kids campaign, which sees proceeds go towards presents for young patients.
Cash raised from sales of the limited-edition wrapping paper, de- signed by readers’ children, will also fund childhood cancer specialists via our charity partner The Azaylia Foundation.
Simon says: “I absolutely love this idea and hope everyone supports it.
“What makes it so special is that this paper was designed by children and will help ensure many other kids in the hospital experience the magic of Christmas this year.”
We are calling on you, our army of readers, to head to The Works stores nationwide to buy the special paper, which is designed by competition winners Quinn Jenkinson, 12, Daisy Tullett, eight, and five-year-old Cassius Greenhalgh.
It will mean kids facing the prospect of Christmas in hospital will receive something to make them smile.
Dulcie O’Kelly’s wishes came true earlier this year when she met Simon as a special guest at Britain’s Got Talent.
The eight-year-old has been treated for a cancer called neuroblastoma since her diagnosis in December 2021, when a tumour weighing 1.2kg was discovered near her tummy.
She has had surgery, chemotherapy, stem cell treatment, clinical trials and immunotherapy, yet managed to keep smiling through.
But the one thing she and her family dreaded was spending Christmas Day in hospital.
Her mum Debbie, 41, a product manager, from Telford, Shrops, says: “We love Christmas. When Dulcie was diagnosed we felt like we were sinking, like you’re underwater.
“When you hear those words, that your child has cancer, you can’t believe it. I couldn’t stop crying.”
Last year doctors delayed Dulcie’s treatment until Boxing Day so she could spend Christmas at home.
She was given the special day out to meet Simon, BGT hosts Ant and Dec and judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli.
Debbie said: “It was amazing. Simon and all the team were amazing. He gave Dulcie a high-five and she was so happy.
“Ant and Dec took her on stage, it was brilliant. And just like Simon, we totally back The Sun on Sunday’s campaign.
“For other children to draw something so kids in hospital have a few minutes of happiness is such a massive help to their families. It adds a bit of lightness to a world that can feel so dark.”
After multiple rounds of treatment, Dulcie was finally found to be clear of cancer this summer.
Debbie says: “She is having treatment at the moment and we hope she will be able to ring the bell to say she is cancer free in the New Year. It has been so tough.”
Theo Priest, now seven, knows what life in hospital is like too. Since being diagnosed with leukaemia aged three in July 2021, he has had more than 1,000 days of chemotherapy.
Worried parents Luisa, 41, and Tim, 43, took their son to the GP the summer before he started school when he became pale, had frequent temperatures and severe night sweats.
He was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which affects 400 children every year.
After ending treatment this September, he is set to spend Christmas cancer free.
Luisa, a nurse from Sanderstead, Surrey, said: “He has had chemotherapy every single day for three and a half years, including Christmas Day, so to spend this one without fear of him needing to be in hospital will be incredibly special.”
Luisa, carpenter Tim, Theo, as well as older siblings Mia and Zac, both 20, and Ylenia, 22, say that our campaign to take presents to children with cancer is vital.
Luisa said: “Because of the impact chemotherapy has on their immune systems, children with cancer are not on a normal ward with other kids to play with and have lots of visitors.
“They are isolated and can’t socialise, or go to parties and playdates, in the same way.
“To receive a present, especially from Santa at this time of year when they are missing out on school nativity plays or their first disco, means so much to them.
“It really makes their day — and it makes their parents’ day.
“I hope that everybody gets those final packs of wrapping paper and helps to buy as many presents as possible.”
Theo was in pre-school when he became ill, at first struggling to recover from an ear infection, then developing bruising and a rash that would not go away.
Tests showed 86 per cent of his blood cells were leukaemia cells.
Theo had eight types of chemotherapy through IV drips, pills and injections into his spine.
He finally rang the end-of- treatment bell in September.
Luisa says: “That was amazing. There were so many times when we were in the waiting room and heard someone else’s child ring the bell.
“I’d be happy for them but hope it would be my child too one day.
“Every parent who has a child with cancer longs for that feeling.”
THIS year, our Christmas appeal has joined forces with The Azaylia Foundation.
Azaylia Diamond Cain was just two months old when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive form of the disease, in 2020.
Her parents, former Coventry City footballer Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee, raised more than £1.5million to fund specialist treatment.
But Azaylia lost her battle aged eight months in April 2021.
They created The Azaylia Foundation in her memory. Yesterday, Safiyya went to her nearby The Works store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to help wrap presents for customers.
She said: “It’s been brilliant to work with The Sun on Sunday.
“The designs we had in for the wrapping paper were all so beautiful, it was hard picking winners.
“Christmas is a time for children and the Azaylia Foundation partnering with The Sun on Sunday means a lot of children will be able to have a visit from Santa and a present, while vital funds have been raised for funding the next generation of childhood cancer specialists and their research.
“Childhood cancer is considered rare and gets less than three per cent of government institution funding.
“That needs to change and the Azaliya Foundation and the Sun on Sunday are working together to make that happen.”
Our limited-edition wrapping paper is available to buy at The Works stores across the country.
Safiyya added: “I want to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you out there for supporting the Azaylia Foundation, for backing The Sun on Sunday and for The Works, because this charity paper is not just paper wrapping our presents for Christmas this year.
“It is making a significant difference for children fighting childhood cancer.”
