A KIND-HEARTED dressmaker is giving away hand-embroidered dresses to cheer up young children suffering from serious illnesses.
Keen fundraiser Sandra Broad, 69, was recently pictured in the Observer wearing a flamboyant dress made out of 1,000 poppies, which she wore around Harrow while collecting money for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
The seamstress, who has been sewing since she was 15 after being taught by her mother and worked as a dressmaker for many years, has turned her attention to making children’s dresses which she plans to donate to young girls.
The Hornbuckle Close resident has already given away 120 of such dresses over the years.
They take about two weeks to embroider – but she keeps doing it to put a smile on the children’s faces.
She said: “As long as I get a letter saying ‘thank you’, I don’t mind. That’s always lovely to see. I have a big pile of them [the letters] at home. Some of them send a photo as well. I couldn’t put a price on the dresses and I wouldn't want to make any money out of it.”
Mrs Broad will donate some of her most recent creations to sick children at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow through the Observer’s Toy Appeal 2011.
Our Toy Appeal 2011 closed on Saturday, December 10, so the borough’s libraries are no longer taking donations.
Thank you to all our readers for the generous donations you have made which are sure to bring Christmas cheer to children staying on Jack’s Place ward at Watford Road hospital over the festive period.
n See next week’s Observer for a special appearance from X Factor’s Johnny Robinson when he delivers the gifts donated by our readers.
