A SOLIHULL Nannie has joined forces with her grandsons to help raise a smile and awareness of a cancer helpline.
Jan, Bazzle and Joshua Hines have been calling on young and old to get creative personalise a calendar in aid of Cancer Research UK with something that makes them happy.
And they have not been left disappointed – as more than 2,000 children from across Solihull and Birmingham plus many more adults have been writing, drawing and sticking pictures and words that raise a smile.
Jan first created a charity calendar around 10 years ago, following the death of her friend, Chris, to cancer.
However when the pandemic hit Jan put that project aside to look after Bazzle and Joshua as their parents were key workers.
But the trio decided to keep spirits high and started and elf workshop sending pictures in boxes of food.
She said: “Seeing the people’s smiling faces on messages inspired Joshua in particular to do more and its how he learnt to write his name, do rainbow and engaged him for hours learning all sorts through art.”
And they boys didn’t stop there as they carried bucket collections for causes including those caught in the Ukraine conflict and Childline.
They were nicknamed the ‘The Buck It Boys’ and were handed the Inspiration Young People’s Award at the 2022 Solihull Civic Honours for all their charity work.
But this year the trio saw the return of the calendar and wanted to make it an awareness project.
They have included the details of a helpline ran by nurses at Cancer Research UK, which can be used by patients and their loved ones.
First port of call were the boys’ school friends and teacher at Olton Primary and Rookery School in Handsworth where children drew pictures including pizza, family portraits and animals.
Jan said: “At the bottom of every calendar is the cancer research freephone helpline and web chat which both myself and the head of one school onboard had reason to need last year but didn’t know existed, hence why we designed our own calendars and thanks to Colprint we now have unique calendars to add unique art work to and be in homes throughout 2024 with information that could be priceless to anyone they know if the dreaded C-word crops up.
“My two grandsons schools, along with my old school from many years ago, Ulverley School are all joining together and making this a multi-generational venture.
“The owners of Kingsford Court retirement complex have all joined in as have several nurseries .
“We have gyms pubs, and cafes all joining in and calendars have gone to the Councillors in Solihull – so this is a fully inclusive campaign.”
For more or to donate contact Jan on [email protected]
