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3,700 postcards from around the world for leukaemia sufferer, Josh 8

When the parents of Josh Johns asked for people from across the world to send him postcards, they expected a handful at best.

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But they are still flooding through their letterbox every day - and the grand total now has now passed 3,700.

And a detailed count has revealed cards have been sent from far-flung corners of the globe.

Some of the postcards Josh has received so far, from places including Florida and Turkey
Some of the postcards Josh has received so far, from places including Florida and Turkey

The family of eight-year-old Josh, who is suffering from leukaemia, said they have been amazed by the response.

The appeal was launched a year ago but shows no signs of slowing down, with 1,000 cards arriving so far this year.

Cards from Newquay and Vancouver show how Josh's appeal has captured the imagination of people across the world
Cards from Newquay and Vancouver show how Josh's appeal has captured the imagination of people across the world
A worker at Disney Land in Florida has been collecting autographs of all the Disney characters for Josh and sent them along with photos of the attractions at the park.
A worker at Disney Land in Florida has been collecting autographs of all the Disney characters for Josh and sent them along with photos of the attractions at the park.
Josh with a collection of postcards sent from California
Josh with a collection of postcards sent from California

More than 900 of the total are from Europe, 424 from America, 249 from Australia, 148 from Africa and 129 from Asia.

Cards have come from places as diverse as Bahrain, Tanzania, Kentucky and Trinidad & Tobago.

And one even came from Antarctica, brought back by a man visiting the country on behalf of his daughter.

Among the highlights was a collection of autographs and photos from a worker at Disney Land in Florida.

Josh's mother Nikki was 'it was like being there' when they flicked through the album and said it was his dream to visit the park one day.

And a family in Finland sent Josh some chocolate, which proved just as popular.

Nikki said: "We are so grateful to everyone who is still sending postcards, we cannot express how much quicker it makes time go by when Josh and the rest of us have things to look forward to."

And she has requested that people send postcards when they go on holiday in the summer.

She added: "Although we'll get some days out and we should hopefully get a few days in a caravan, the postcards have become a real lifeline for Josh and the rest of the family."

Last month he spent two days as a keeper at Longleat Safari Park, organised by the charity the Make A Wish Foundation.

Josh, who lives with father Jason, his mother, Nikki, and siblings Kristian, 17, Bethan, 15 and Freya, six, was diagnosed with leukaemia just before Easter last year. The illness is a blood cancer caused by the overproduction of white blood cells.

Within a week of the campaign being launched last year, postcards had arrived from Japan, Australia and Brazil.

However, the family faced a setback when they were evicted from their home in Hixon, Stafford, last August after racking up rent arrears while caring for Josh. They paid the rent they owed, but the landlord had already decided to sell the house.

Josh and his mother Nikki got up close to some lions during his day as a keeper at Longleat Zoo
Josh and his mother Nikki got up close to some lions during his day as a keeper at Longleat Zoo

They have moved to Salford, where Nikki grew up, and she says they are now closer to her family and have plenty of support.

Josh is taught at home by a tutor when he cannot make it to school, and though Josh has recently been suffering from low blood levels which led him to bruise easily, he is now making good progress again.

Visit www.facebook.com/postcardsforjosh for more details.