See how your donations to our Smiles at Christmas campaign brought smiles to kids in the UK and Iraq
We show snaps of kids receiving toys and gifts at Iraqi Zelikan camp and at UK refuge centre
OUR Smiles At Christmas campaign has raised an incredible £500,000 in cash and toys — and it is all thanks to YOU.
Our campaign — the biggest festive appeal in Sun history — set out to help four charities by asking our millions of big-hearted readers to donate what they could to bring a little extra cheer to disadvantaged children.
But your unwavering kindness means countless other kids will have a reason to smile this Christmas.
This week, Sun lorries delivered more than 35,000 toys all around the UK, dropping off at hospitals, charities, hospices, refuges and individual houses.
You also digged deep to give more than £100,000 in cash.
We asked readers to donate toys at Toys R Us and branches of McColl’s convenience stores.
All donations, including an amazing 20,000 toys and books from Marks And Spencer, were brought back to The Sun’s printing HQ at Broxbourne, Herts, and then dispatched across the country.
Leukaemia sufferer Dylan Clements, nine, could not believe his eyes when he ripped open a box of Lego this week.
Mum Lorraine, 42, from Croydon, South London, said: “It’s amazing how generous those supporting The Sun’s campaign have been.
We can’t thank you enough...our children will now be able to love and play without fear
Refuge manager Charlotte Kneer
“Dylan looked at me when they arrived and asked if they were his to keep. It has helped make him very happy.
“It makes me all warm inside. I’m so grateful to The Sun and all those who have donated toys.”
Dylan, who is undergoing chemotherapy, said: “I feel really lucky. Thank you to everyone. It makes me happy and excited.”
We launched Smiles At Christmas last month and featured four different charities who work with kids at home and abroad.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports children who have lost a parent in the Armed Forces. One of those kids is Jack, the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby.
The charity was given 6,600 brand new toys to hand out as presents to the children they support.
Scotty’s founder, Nikki Scott, said: “There are hundreds of bereaved Forces children across the country, and just small things like a toy can help raise a smile and reassures these brave little soldiers that there are people out there who are thinking about them at this difficult time.”
I feel really lucky. Thank you to everyone who donated toys. It makes me happy and excited
Dylan Clements, 9, leukaemia sufferer
The AMAR Foundation aims to rebuild the lives of children who are left in crisis in the Middle East and is currently helping those fleeing IS in Mosul and Aleppo. SKA International Group agreed to ship 1,200 of your toys out to Iraq.
Clutching precious new toys we took out there early, Hijram Hassy and little brother Abbas could not hide their delight.
Hundreds of children in the Zelikan refugee camp north of Mosul fled ISIS with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
Grinning Hijram’s mum Wahbia, 30, told us: “She had terrible dreams, waking up in the night screaming. Now she takes her dolly to bed, it helps her sleep.”
One camp worker wept as she described the children’s plight, saying: “They had forgotten how to play.”
AT A GLANCE
35,000 toys delivered in UK
1,200 handed out in Iraq
£105,000 in cash raised so far
26 charities have gifts from Sun readers
4 lorryloads via McColl’s and Toys R Us
£225k-worth from M&S, £25k from Morrisons
One of those kids was shepherd’s son Rafih Ahmad, five, watched in horror as IS thugs machine-gunned his pet dogs. Today, he is smiling as he hugs his new toy penguin.
The simple gifts brought joy to little Wijdan Zanoon, seven, and five-year-old Norhan Nashwan in the children’s ward of the chaotic Shikhan hospital.
Widjan is missing her right leg after it was blown off in the crossfire between IS and Iraqi forces battling to liberate Mosul.
Norhan has shrapnel embedded in her skull.
Clinging on to their new teddies, they smiled and said “thank you” in English. The Sun campaign also paid for a wheelchair for Widjan.
Last night AMAR founder and chairman Baroness Emma Nicholson said: “This wonderful gesture by The Sun and its readers will really give them a boost, showing them that the outside world really does care about their plight.”
Women’s Aid represents hundreds of refuges for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.
This week we delivered a vanload of toys to a refuge for domestic violence victims in Surrey. Manager Charlotte Kneer said: “We can’t thank Sun readers enough. You’ve been so generous.
“So many of the children that stay here have been too scared to play or had toys used as weapons against them. We often have to teach them how to play again.
“These amazing gifts mean they will have toys of their own that they can play with without fear.”
‘She is so poorly but this brought her joy’
Children with Cancer UK received 2,340 toys to give to sick kids this Christmas.
Charity boss Cliff O’Gorman said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Sun readers and the companies who have donated toys.
These special gifts have allowed us to surprise and delight the children who are fighting cancer this Christmas.
“It is a wonderful gesture.”
The sheer volume of toys donated to our appeal meant we had to broaden our deliveries to a further 19 charities, including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Bella Rose Leach helped launch our campaign. The five-year-old, who also has leukaemia, has spent the last two weeks in hospital but the delivery brought a smile to her face.
Mum Abbie Stanwix, 34, from Hemel Hempstead, Herts, said: “She loves the Barbies and My Little Ponies she received.
“Thank you so much to those who donated. It has brought joy to her face when she is so poorly.”
Your generosity was matched by hard work from people at The Sun to get the toys delivered in time for Christmas.
The team at News UK’s printing site at Broxbourne have been working day and night to prepare deliveries across the UK.
Dane Sunderland, 34, Wholesale and Distribution Network Manager, said: “It has been incredible to see the amount of stuff coming in.
“It has kept us on our toes, every time we think we're done we get another load dropped off - it’s fantastic.
“I normally work behind a desk but I’ve been getting out into the warehouse to help with this.”
Aiden Chapman, 44, Senior Operation Manager, said: “When I’m loading the boxes I think about all the children who will wake up on Christmas day to a pile of presents under the tree, it’s overwhelming.”
Simon Reeves, 37, Day Distribution Manager, said: “I can’t believe how much has come in. We have sent some toys out to specific families so I’ve tried to work out what they would like and make sure they get toys suited to them.
“One family had two young boys, so I found some matching Avengers pyjamas and made sure they got in the box.”
Marcus Levy, 30, in Magazines Transshipment, said: “It has been a fair amount of extra work making sure all the toys are loaded up properly - and there have been so many sent in.
“It has been really worthwhile though and I know it will make some kids’ Christmas.”
Mark Terrey, 55, Assistant Distributions Manager, said: “I’ve been unpacking all the boxes so I see everything which comes in. Sun readers have been so generous. You can see they have put a lot of thought into what to send rather than chucking any old thing in a box.
“There will be a lot of smiles on Christmas day when needy kids see what they have been sent.”
Who your toys have gone to
As well as our four main charities, 22 other causes have benefited from your kindness. Here, a selection of them give their thanks.
The Henry Allen Trust (toys received: 3,000) – founder and four-year-old Henry’s mum Dawn Allen said: “Wow! I can’t find the words to thank you all. Henry, whose dying wish was to give other sick children toys, would be smiling more than ever.”
Brain Tumour Research (2,200 toys) – Robin Meltzer, fundraising director, said: “We would like to thank The Sun for spreading festive joy.”
Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice (440 toys) – chief executive Claire Rintoul said: “A huge thank you to The Sun and your readers. It’s fantastic to think of the children’s faces when they open the wonderful presents.”
Rays of Sunshine (1,500 toys) – boss Jane Sharpe said: “We’re so thankful to all Sun readers who generously donated. These presents will bring some much needed sunshine.”
The Children’s Trust (700 toys) – Dalton Leong, CEO, said: “The children staying with us often find it very difficult to be away from home at Christmas. We’re humbled by the incredible generosity.”
Make A Wish UK (300 toys) – Nicola Briggs, team leader, said: “Your kindness means we will be able to send some little extras to children fighting life-threatening conditions.”
The Sick Children’s Trust (520 toys) – Jane Featherstone, chief executive, said: “Thanks to the generosity of Sun readers, this year we’ll be able to spread some extra magic.”
Dreams Come True (1,500 toys) – fundraising manager Martin Neal said: “A massive thank you. The toys will certainly brighten up the day for our life-limiting and seriously ill children.”
MedEquip4Kids (660 toys) – Ghazala Baig, chief executive, said: “We’re so grateful. Being ill is no fun for kids but they love toys and games to take their mind off it.”
Brainstrust (980 toys) – boss Will Jones said: “Thanks to The Sun’s generous donation, we will be able to bring some happiness to kids with brain tumours.”
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
Like our Facebook page
Or tweet using #SmilesAtChristmas to let us know how you’re getting involved!