Post Pals aims to send out regular post, but we need your help to make it possible. Could you, someone you know, a local business, club, charity or church help sponsor a project or part of the project? We are careful to hunt around to find things that the children will love but which are also as cheep as possible, we would like to send the following but need your help.

Fiber Optic Fingers– fiber optic lights which slip onto your fingers and flash, allowing you to dance, wave your arms around and make pretty patterns, they are enjoyed by both children and adults so will be suitable for all of our Pals and siblings. To send these to all the children will cost £263.720 I know it sounds a lot but we are helping 112 children and that includes postage.

Growing eggs – special coloured “eggs” which you crack and then water, in time a special plant grows in 7-10 days which has a message attached- they are quite remarkable! Its not suitable for every child so it will cost £215

“Cuddles” the bear – a 27cm cuddly teddy bear, sure to become a child’s best friend. Again its not for everyone so will cost £179

Sweet cone – A cone bag stuffed full of sweets and a couple of toys too! It will cost £132

Beatrix Potter Cards – some of the Pals like to send cards to other children as they know how much it makes them smile, some even spend their pocket money on each other which we think is really sweet, others like to send Thank you’s. To enable them to continue we would like to send them a lovely box with 30 Beatrix Potter cards in. This would cost £74.75 THANK YOU TO MILLY P AND ALICE P’S FAMILY FOR SPONSORING THIS PROJECT

Crazy Balloon Modelling kit – the name gives it away but a kit complete with balloons, pump and instructions. This would cost £199

Wordsearch mug– its often hard finding presents for the older boys but we thought they might like a wordsearch mug with special pen. This would be £39.80

Butterfly Wind chime– a giant wind chime which is over 1 meter tall which goes in your garden, perfect for girls or children who enjoy sensory items. £199.50

Dog and Cat Magnets – a set of magnets in the shape of dogs or cats depending on which the child prefers. £199

Special keyring – you fill the keyring with water and sit back and watch. The frog one magically turns into a prince, a duckling turns into a swan and for older children you can grow some bamboo inside one! £294.56

I’m very sad to say that Anthony M has passed away. His Mum sent this message;

It is with a very heavy heart that i let you all know that Anthony lost his battle with renal cell carcinoma at 11am on Sunday 8th February 2009 aged 13 years. My wee angel, my star xxxxxxxxxx

Sympathy cards can be sent to his usual address as well as cheerful post for his brothers.

Anthony was on Post Pals for just under a year and many people took the time to make him smile – thank you to you all. Anthony loved Lush, especially their bathbombs, so Post Pals had been hunting around to find a charity who could fund the sending of 3 of every single bathbomb that Lush do (his brothers also love them and we try to include siblings where ever possible). Last week we found a charity who were going to send them but sadly we ran out of time.

Our thoughts go out to all of Anthony’s friends and family.

Anthony 12/09/1995-08/02/2009

Anthony with his Post Pals quilt

With Valentines just around the corner Post Pals are hoping to spread some love! Everyone likes to get Valentines cards and our Pals and siblings are no exception. So why not grab a card, or fold some paper and draw some hearts, pop a big ? in it, and send it off!

We always have less post being sent at this time of year and normally there isn’t much we can do as although Post Pals sends out as much as possible we are restricted by lack of funds. We are still restricted by lack of funds, however, after several of you donated or fundraised last year we have been able to send lots of goodies out recently. We hunt around to find the best offers and for companies who offer free postage. This year all the parents have been sent chocolates (parents need smiles too!), girls (including siblings) have been sent big chocolate scented candles which look like the real thing, the boys (including siblings) have had football bathbombs, lots of Pals have had books which match their favourite films/characters/interests, 2 children have had big balloons, several have received quilts, and thanks to Jo Magdalena the girls have had jewellery too. Needless to say, lots of smiles have been created.

Despite this we really do need more people to log on and send a message, be it an email or a card, and valentines day is a great way to spread some love without having to write a long message

We hope our UK volunteers are keeping warm in all this snow!

Keep Smiling!