Boy inundated with birthday cards after online appeal

A boy received 220 cards for his 16th birthday from all over the country after his mother made an appeal on Facebook.

Beverley Hancock, of North Muskham, was overwhelmed with cards and parcels for her son, Kane, who has autism.

She posted news of his birthday on a Facebook group for mothers who run as a hobby, as well as her own page.

“When Kane saw the cards, he asked if they were all for him,” said Beverley.

“When I told him they were he had the biggest smile I have seen in a long time.

“We are a small family and Kane goes to a special school, which means he doesn’t always receive many cards.

“I posted a request asking if anyone would like to send Kane a card for his 16th and I started to get private messages asking for our postal address.

“We received a few parcels too, including Star Wars gifts and Lego sets.”

"He read every single card."

Beverley gave Kane the cards and parcels the day before his birthday so he could start to open them. It took him two days to read all his birthday messages.

“He read every single card,” she said.

The family went on holiday to Norfolk to celebrate the milestone.

“It is a favourite place of Kane’s and we regularly go there because he enjoys the beach,” Beverley said.

“We usually go to the same place because Kane needs routine.”

Kane, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, previously attended a mainstream school in Lincolnshire.

When the family moved to North Muskham he went to Dawn House School, Rainworth, which helps children with complex communication needs.

He is hoping to stay on at Dawn House to enrol at its college.

Kane needs round-the-clock support and one of his key workers, Cherry Rudd, travels with him on the bus to school.

Beverley said: “Kane has always had a good sense of humour.

“To begin with he attended mainstream school but as he got older friendship groups would go to play football outside during break times, which Kane didn’t like to do.

“So when we moved from Lincolnshire he started at Dawn House.

“We are very proud of him.”