When Tania Williams’ disabled son, Rhys told her that he’s “had enough of life” she believed that greeting cards could be his saviour. She was right.
Having put out a call out through the press and on social media channels for anyone and everyone to send her son Rhys a birthday card for his upcoming 14th birthday (which falls on September 21), their Bolton home has been inundated with sackfuls of greeting cards arriving every day from well wishers from all over the world.
Rhys Williams is living in constant pain as he battles a rare life-limiting and agonising skin condition since he was born. Confined to a wheelchair because of epidermolysis bullosa, which results in painful skin blisters and sores, that has even caused his fingers to fuse together, Rhys was losing the will to live.
The Lancashire teenager confessed to his Mum that, he wished “a butterfly would come and take him away”. Desperate to show her son that he has something to fight for and that people care about him, she hit upon the idea of him receiving a sea of birthday cards. She was convinced this would lift his spirits as she launched a similar campaign for him around Christmas a few years ago and he loved it.
As of a few days ago, thanks to the support of the media, Rhys has already received well over 3,000 birthday cards and there are still 11 days to go until his big day.
Commenting, Tania confirmed the power of greeting cards are working their magic: “Rhys is in his element. He’s at home opening the cards with his best friend. He is absolutely loving it.
He is opening each card and reading it, and he’s got his friend opening them too. He is taking his time with each one which is why it is taking so long. He’s just so overwhelmed with it.”
There is still plenty of time to send Rhys a card. Please send them to 40 Whalley Avenue, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 5UD.
Top: A smiling Rhys Williams surrounded by some of the thousands of birthday cards he has received in the last few days.
