I am very happy (and honoured) to say that I won an award from the Red Cross this week. It is the “2009’s Humanitarian Citizen Award” for my Post Pal work. I was very, VERY shocked to say the least! We all had photographs taken of us wearing superhero masks and it probably won’t surprise you to know we asked to take them all home for the Pals as they are the true heroes!

On other Post Pal news, I have given a couple of talks lately to Effingham Villagers and Box Hill Villagers. Thank you to them for inviting me and for their donations and at the end we all did a postcard writing session. Thank you also to Solo’s (a sub group of Effingham Villagers) who made a donation too. For the talk I did a slideshow about Post Pals, the first half contains some upsetting images, but the second is full of smiles. Make sure you have your speakers on.

We have been busy spending the donations! A little box of chocolates have been sent to all the Post Pal parents and we are working on getting a gift to all 130 children too. Once we have finished sending a gift to everyone, we will start all over again.

Paul Tomkins, who is an author of many books about Liverpool FC, met Rafael Benitez last month and he signed one of Paul’s books, which Paul then very kindly auctioned for us!

Due to donations, we are pleased to be launching a new scheme shortly which I will post more info about soon.

Harry’s family have also been very busy with their PJ Parade fundraiser, but I will wait until the final count has been done and then update their own page about that.

Please keep sending post as November is often a quiet month but the kids are in need of smiles right now as much as any other time.

Last year Harry’s sister Ellie smashed the Post Pals fundraising record by organising ‘On wheels for Post Pals’.

This year she is fundraising again and it’s set to be bigger than ever! On the 14th of November, Ellie and a band of friends from school with be doing a sponsored walk in their PJ’s. The event is “Pyjamas Parade” and they have put so much work into it! They plan to spend the whole day in Stafford collecting (they have all the licences) and at dusk are having electric candles and pictures of the Pals we have lost so they are remembered.

If you live in or around Stafford please pop down, tell your friends or even take part in the walk.

The event was kicked off with a trip to London for Ellie, Harry, their friend Megan, and Mum Sue, to meet Fearne Cotton and interview her about why she supports Post Pals. As a result, Ellie’s school is now supporting Post Pals and the Teenage Cancer Trust this year.

You can sponsor Ellie online by clicking here or by sending cheques made payable to “Post Pals” to Ellie’s usual forwarding address which is 18 The Oaklands, Church Eaton, Stafford, Staffs, ST20 0BA or through our donate page and let us know its sponsorship for Ellie.

Daniel M’s siblings are also walking in memory of their brother, to sponsor them please make cheques made payable to “Post Pals” to their usual forwarding address which is 146 Silkmore Lane, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 4RJ or through our donate page and let us know its sponsorship for Daniel’s family.

Not only are they busy raising money for us but they are also raising awareness, in and around Stafford, and through the media – Ellie has just done a radio interview which is fantastic!

The money raised will be used to send post to the children. Most recently we sent sky lanterns (you write a wish on them then watch them float away) which the children loved but which cost us nearly £600 due to the fact we are supporting 130 children at the moment!

If you would like more details please email Sue via us on info@postpals.co.uk

Thank you to Ellie, Sue, and everyone who is helping.