Licensed character confectionery company Bon Bon Buddies has donated 1,400 gifts to help bring some festive cheer to patients at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals.
The Oakdale-based company donated gifts to Great Ormond Street Hospital as part of the hospital’s two-day Christmas celebrations for those children currently under its care.
The gifts included Bon Bon Buddies’ mugs and pencil tins featuring much-loved children’s characters Spiderman, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Transformers and One Direction, all of which were filled with chocolates and sweets.
Jo Lloyd, of Bon Bon Buddies, said: “Christmas is a very special time of year when many of us spend time with our loved ones enjoying a sweet treat or two, and it goes without saying that for children it is a truly magical time.
“As a leading supplier of children’s confectionery, we wanted to help make sure that the boys and girls who are having to stay in hospital over the festive period, or for those who have been treated at the hospital throughout the year, are given plenty of gifts to make their Christmas special.
“Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the most recognised children’s hospitals in the world and is dedicated to finding cures and treating childhood illnesses. So when we heard about their Christmas party celebrations, we were keen to show our support for the fantastic work the hospital does year-on-year for its very special patients.”
Alison Reed, Head of Special Events at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, said: We’d like to say a big thank you to Bon Bon Buddies for their generous donation, which really helped bring smiles to the faces of patients at our Christmas parties.”
Bon Bon Buddies has also been supporting causes closer to home by donating a range of chocolate advent calendars and gifts to Caerphilly Council’s Operation Santa appeal. This annual appeal gives Christmas gifts to children and young people across the borough nominated by social services and local charities including Llamau, Action for Children and Gofal Cymru. Last year more than 650 children received gifts through the appeal.
Mrs Lloyd continued: “Caerphilly Council’s Operation Santa appeal is a great local initiative that gives gifts and food hampers to local children and young people, each of whom has been put forward to receive a special Christmas gift by the social workers and charities who have been working with them throughout the year.
“We’re delighted to have shared so many gifts and lent our support to national and local causes this year. We hope that a few of the nation’s most-loved character confectionery helps to put a smile on some special youngsters’ faces this Christmas.”
Established in 1993, Bon Bon Buddies has grown to become Europe’s leading provider of character confectionery, distributing to 40 countries worldwide.
The company has won the highly esteemed Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International trade in recognition of its outstanding achievement in innovation, international trade and sustainable development.