Cancer-stricken girl celebrates 8th birthday with 300,000 cards

By Ed Chatterton and James Vukmirovic

A brave little girl battling cancer has achieved her dream of breaking a UK record after receiving a staggering 250,000 birthday cards from well-wishers.

Amelia Kolpa had been hoping to get around 8,000 cards but smashed her target after being sent more than a quarter of a million as she celebrated her eighth birthday today (Tue).

The youngster is receiving palliative care after being diagnosed with a rare neuroblastoma in her stomach and has been in and out of hospital since she was two.

She had decided she wanted to break a world record when asked by her family what she wanted for her birthday.

An online appeal by her family had encouraged people to drop off cards at three locations in her local area in Rowley Regis, West Mids., but within the days the campaign went viral.

Hundreds of motorcyclists handed more than 60,000 cards to Amelia last month and since then her birthday appeal has gained even more worldwide attention.

Mom Katarzyna Bartczak was left stunned after the family also started getting cards from across the globe including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Amelia's aunt Charmaine Grace has now spoke of her surprise at the scale of love shown towards Amelia as she celebrated the special day with a gathering of close family and friends today.

People are also being invited to record themselves dancing the Macarena for Amelia's birthday, with flash mobs doing the dance at multiple locations.

Charmaine said the support shown from the local community and worldwide had been "incredible".

She added: "I think that all little girls ask for is a card, something so simple and yet it means the world, so I think that's where it has touched everyone's heart because most people will ask for presents or money to go abroad, whereas all she wanted for a little card and a little dance.

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"She had said, when asked what she wanted for her birthday, that she wanted 5,000 cards, with a cheeky grin on her face, and then her mum said she should go for 8,000 because it was her eighth birthday.

"At the time, we thought it was going to be a push to do that, but it's been completely blown out of the water and she's now saying we could get a million."

Charmaine said her niece was the bravest person she'd ever known and even through the most difficult circumstances, she still kept on smiling and giving to other people.

She said: "Whatever she's going through and whatever pain she's been in, she's always smiling and thinking of others, like with all the presents she's been given.

"We were looking at them and working out what to do with them and she's put them in four piles, one for Birmingham Children's Hospital, one for Matt's Mission charity, one for Children's Cancer Parents Alliance charity and one for herself.

"She took some teddies into the Children's Hospital and some toys and we've had parents reaching out to thank Amelia and her mum for their generosity because it's made their child smile while they're in the hospital, and that just restores your faith in humanity."

A pre-birthday party held on Saturday, Feb. 28, was described as 'amazing' but quite exhausting for little Amelia.

Charmaine added: "She's just a girl who leaves you with a smile on your face and she'll text me through her brother's iPad with some of the cutest things, which can come at any time and are just adorable, and I've got so many memories of her growing up and the smile has never left her face.

"It's always been there and that's what the nation and everyone is going to take with them, so I just want to thank everyone for being part of Amelia's journey and, not only that, Amelia thanks you too.

"That's not just for what you're doing for her, but also for the charity and the disease, as not a lot of people knew about it before, and a family has reached out as they're starting a charity due to their boy having Neuroblastoma.

"We've had motorcycle gangs, the Mayor of Wolverhampton sent a personal note, there have been cards from schools, which also includes schools in Poland as they dedicated a day to doing cards and sending them over, as well as doing the Macarena for us.

"The support has been incredible and it has just brought everyone together and makes you realise not to take life for granted and enjoy all the moments with your children and family because you don't know what might be around the corner."