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Cards For Bravery founder Katie Callaghan in plea for Christmas gift bag items for children in hospital




A charity champion who launched a scheme to cheer up children in hospital has issued a plea for donations of items to put in Christmas gift bags for sick youngsters.

Katie Callaghan set up Cards For Bravery when she was 13 after she spent long spells in hospital due to her condition, a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

She arranges workshops in and around Bishop’s Stortford to make home-made cards to send to young patients in hospitals. The scheme has gone from strength to strength and has seen Katie win awards.

Katie Callaghan is appealing for items for Christmas gift bags for young hospital patients. Pic: Vikki Lince.
Katie Callaghan is appealing for items for Christmas gift bags for young hospital patients. Pic: Vikki Lince.

In 2019 she was joint winner of the Child of Courage title at the 2019 Indies Community Awards and in January this year was honoured with a British Citizen Award.

In 2022 she was featured on BBC TV’s The One Show when TV personality and children’s author David Walliams surprised her at a card-making session at Bishop’s Stortford Methodist Church.

The scheme is now a registered charity and last year was its most productive year, with 5,000 hand-made cards sent out.

Katie, now 22, is aiming to send 150 Christmas gift bags to local hospitals, a children’s hospice and children in the community.

She is asking for brand new items such as baby toys, blankets, craft kits, toys, board games and toiletry sets. Donors can contact Katie via email at katie@cardsforbravery.com or text 07438 786951. She needs the items by December 10.



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