Four-year-old Elliott Hole, who has been undergoing treatment for leukemia, delivered over 400 bags of gifts to children’s hospitals in Kent, England, spreading holiday cheer to kids spending the season in hospital rooms.
The idea began when Harley, moved by her son’s journey, decided to give back to the hospitals that have provided Elliott’s care. She set up an Amazon Wishlist, inviting her community to contribute. The response was overwhelming, with donations pouring in, including toys, chocolates, games, bubbles, and advent calendars.
GIVING BACK: 7-year-old Auden Nichols, a leukemia survivor, bought Christmas gifts for patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. https://t.co/6O9SuoPyG3 pic.twitter.com/o8A3NZjfIt
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) December 26, 2019
“We stopped counting at 400 but ended up with about 440 gift bags and over 100 calendars,” Harley said. The gifts were packed into crates and delivered to three hospitals: the Royal Marsden in Sutton, Kings College in London, and Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.
Little boy with Leukemia returns to hospital to deliver 400 Christmas gifts to kids still there for the holidays. #KindnessMakesADifference❤️ https://t.co/5hsCbiyU02
— PRMAC_Consulting (@HarassNoMore) December 15, 2024
Harley described the excitement at the hospitals. “The reception was brilliant. The nurses were amazed when we wheeled in the huge crates of presents,” she said. The gifts were designed to bring joy to children enduring the isolation of hospital stays during the holidays.
Elliott, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January 2022, is nearing the end of his three-year treatment plan. Despite daily chemotherapy and countless hospital visits, Harley describes her son as “strong-willed” and resilient. “He powers through everything he faces,” she said.
7-year-old Auden Nichols is already doing some Christmas shopping. The leukemia survivor is buying gifts for patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Here's what he says about giving back during the holiday season. pic.twitter.com/hI7CH9LnAx
— CBS7 (@CBS7News) November 19, 2019
Reflecting on the gift deliveries, Harley added, “Receiving a gift bag like this would have meant a lot to us during the hardest days of treatment. It’s heartwarming to see how many people came together to make this happen.”
