On Tuesday 12th December, children from years 3-6 at Kerem School, in Norrice Lea, Hampstead Garden Suburb, took part in a Chanukah event for children’s charity Spread a Smile. The children wrapped and decorated 200 presents, which had been generously donated by parents from Kerem School and the PTA. All the gifts will be distributed by to seriously ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College Hospital, The Royal London Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital by the Spread a Smile team during the holiday season.
Kerem Head Teacher, Alyson Burns, said “I am so proud of the children at Kerem. It is such a lovely thing to do for such a worthwhile charity.”
Libby Mahalla, Kerem School PTA Chair, said “Kerem children were so excited to be taking part in wrapping and decorating gifts for the holidays, for children in hospital. The pride they felt being able to be a part of something so special for Spread a Smile has only helped to enhance their Chanukah experience.”
Kerem pupil, Sophia Bloom, said: “I really enjoyed wrapping the presents. It felt really good to do something so good for such an important charity.”
Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker, Spread a Smile co-founders, said “It is always so heart-warming to see kids helping other kids – and the support we’ve received from Kerem school is a brilliant example of that. We are so looking forward to seeing the smiles on the faces of the young patients when we deliver the gifts in hospital.”
Spread a Smile is a children’s charity who brighten the days of seriously ill children and teenagers in hospital by taking teams of entertainers into paediatric and adolescent wards. They take magicians, musicians, fairies, poets, singers, face painters, artists and two Pet Therapy dogs into Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College Hospital, The Royal London Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, to bring much needed joy, light and laughter to courageous children and teenagers.
Those suffering from conditions such as cancer, heart and kidney related illnesses are often confined to hospital for prolonged periods. Spread a Smile entertainers provide a diversion from the boredom and monotony and help young patients to brave their treatment.
For more info contact Lucy Jackson 07931 362729 lucyjackson@spreadasmile.org