Emerging Courageous Online Magazine - Stories

Post Pals by Vikki George

  “Hello, Im Kat, new to the message board. Im 18 and in hospital yet again”- It was the first time that Viks aged 16 who was bed-bound with CFS had read anything from Kat, she was drawn to her, not only by her situation but because she had described herself as having a brain made of candy floss- a desperate attempt to laugh through a dreadful situation. Viks decided to send a card, not imaging what this would be the beginning of. 

Over the next year Kat, Viks and another Vix aged 19 who also had CFS started writing to each other regularly, knowing that they didn’t have to reply when they weren’t feeling up to it.  Every day the three of them would wake up to face a day of pain, yet their first thoughts would be ‘had the post man come?’  They would spend their precious energy writing, dictating or emailing notes to each other, helping break through the isolation, gradually they built up amazing friendships.

After a while the three of them felt they would like to help others in a similar situation.  They got their thinking caps on and came up with an idea, it would be a website where children and teenagers who were seriously ill could be featured and people could see their pages and send cards to them.  After a year and half’s hard work- all from their beds up and down the country and an appeal to the Princes Trust Millennium Commission they were awarded a grant of £12,375, more any of them had seen in their life times or dreamt about.  They decided to name themselves “Post Pals”.

They worked hard often in the early hours of the morning- when ever their health permitted, putting everything else on hold.  They spoke to lots of charities and members of the public, some times receiving negative responses or being turned away, but they carried on desperate to make a difference.

Something that they learnt, lot of people in this world would like to do voluntary work, but they simply don’t know how, or think they don’t have the time. Vix, Kat and Viks realised that not only would Post Pals support those who are ill, it would also help people HELP others. 

This group of sick teenagers were starting to revolutionise voluntary work.  Now children, busy mothers, businessmen, seniors- people from all walks of life can make a child smile.  It can take a matter of minutes and cost the price of a stamp, or those who have more time to invest can become a volunteer and get involved in everything from sewing to administration, to signing children’s guest-books.

The first Pal to be helped was welcomed to the group in July, a 9 year old called James who had just been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, his Dad later emailed to say how much his son’s face lights up when mail arrives.

Viks, Kat and Vix shouldn’t have met the way they did, thrown together by ill health and loneliness but something special has grown from their friendships, something that will go on to help hundreds of children and thousands of people who get involved. 

If anyone would like to learn more about Viks, Kat, Vix, Post Pals, or is interested in sending a card, then the address is www.postpals.co.uk

It takes just 5 minutes to post a smile on a sick child’s face, and there is no better feeling than knowing YOU made a difference.

  Vikki George [email protected]