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Clare Jones, a mother of three from Pontarddulais, Swansea, recently made a heartfelt appeal on Facebook asking for extra Christmas cards to make what she believes will be her final Christmas more memorable. Diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2022, Clare was given the devastating news that her chemotherapy treatments were no longer effective and that she likely has around ten months left to live. What began as a simple request for a handful of cards quickly turned into an overwhelming response, with thousands of cards and gifts arriving from all over the world.
In her Facebook post, Clare expressed her love for Christmas cards, describing herself as “a simple person who likes simple things.” She asked people kindly to send her an extra card alongside their own, hoping to receive about 10 to 15. Instead, her message went viral, shared by more than 10,000 people, attracting messages of kindness and encouragement from across the globe. Clare said she has been “overwhelmed” by the generosity, receiving not only cards but also flowers, chocolates, theatre tickets, and even offers of caravan holidays.
Clare’s cancer journey has been challenging. After surgery to remove an 18-inch tumour in 2022, her cancer later progressed to stage four, spreading to her lymph nodes and lungs. Although she has been on chemotherapy, the treatment stopped working in November, and doctors gave her a prognosis of about ten months. Despite this, Clare remains defiant and hopeful, saying, “But am I average? I’ve never been average,” and wishing for a “Christmas miracle.” Throughout this difficult time, Clare and her family have found comfort in the love and support revealed through the cards and messages, which have come from countries around the world including America, Greece, Holland, Spain, Germany, France, and New Zealand.
Facing the reality that this Christmas may be her last, Clare has had to share the difficult news with her three children, Summer, Sami, and Finley, all of whom live with her. She describes the emotional challenge of coming to terms with saying “last” to so many experiences—the last Halloween, last birthday, and potentially the last Christmas. Despite the sadness, Clare cherishes the joy the cards have brought to her household and wants to thank everyone personally for their kindness. She is also collecting the stamps from the cards to donate to a bone cancer charity, ensuring the kindness continues to support others. Clare has planned some family outings over Christmas, including a caravan holiday and theatre trips, determined to spend her remaining time surrounded by the people she loves
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