A NORTH East cancer charity brought some early Christmas joy to children spending the holidays in hospital.
Andrea Thompson and her husband Dave arrived at Ward 4 oncology unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) armed with Christmas presents for the children from the Toma Fund.
The gifts were generously donated by Specsavers’ customers and staff across the North East and former Newcastle United striker Joe Allon was on hand with former West Ham and Celtic footballer Frank McAvennie to hand out presents to children on ward 4 this Christmas.
Both footballers said it was an extremely humbling experience for them as parents.
Joe said: “Of the trouble you think you are going through it puts things in perspective, the ordeal these kids have to face every single day.
“It is our pleasure to be here; these kids go through it day in, day out. How they cope I do not know but they should be recognised for it.”
Frank added: “We just feel for the parents and the kids for what they are going through at this time of year. We have our own kids and it makes you realise how lucky you are they are OK this Christmas.”
Andrea and Dave, who set up the Toma Fund following the death of their son Jordan from acute myeloid leukaemia four years ago, had spent months with their son in the RVI’s children’s cancer ward, so the couple were delighted to provide the early Christmas gifts.
Andrea, who has fundraised tirelessly since Jordan’s death at the age of 15, said she hoped handing out presents on behalf of the Toma Fund could become an annual event.
“It puts a smile on their faces when they are going through a traumatic time and it makes them feel that it’s not so bad being in hospital over Christmas,” she said.
“They get the presents from their parents but this is an added bonus. It means more to me to give to these kids because they all have a special place in my heart.
“I remember Jordan saying to me once about not being in hospital at Christmas and he said the children were really treated well because he knew a few of his friends who were in hospital over Christmas. We were never in hospital with Jordan on Christmas Day,” said Andrea.
Little Katie Bain was just one of the youngsters to receive a visit from the Toma Fund. The two-year-old will be spending Christmas Day in the RVI with her family and her mum Christine said the gifts had been a lovely early surprise.
David Stockton, regional chairman of Specsavers, said: “We are really touched by people’s generosity and the success of the appeal.
“We hope the gifts will go some way towards brightening up these children’s Christmases.
“They really deserve a treat as they are so brave all year round.”
For more information about the Toma Fund or to donate, visit www.tomafund.org
