'Happy birthday Amelia!' Heartfelt thanks as 250,000 birthday cards mark special day for Black Country girl

Charmaine Grace has been continuing to collect birthday cards for Amelia Kolpa ahead of her eighth birthday on March 3, with more than 250,000 cards having been collected.

People are also being invited to record themselves dancing the Macarena for Amelia's birthday, with flash mobs doing the dance in Blackheath on Monday and at the Merry Hill Centre on Tuesday.

It had been the wish of the seven-year-old palliative care patient to break a record for the most birthday cards received on a birthday, with an original target of 8,000 set in January.

Amelia, from Rowley Regis, has been in and out of hospital since the age of two and a half with neuroblastoma and had decided she wanted to break a world record when asked what she wanted for her birthday.

A pre-birthday party held on Saturday was described as 'amazing' but quite exhausting for little Amelia - the actual day on Tuesday will be marked by a gathering of close family and friends as she continues to rest.

But Ms Grace said the response from the whole community and even worldwide had been incredible, with videos of people doing the Macarena sent from as far as Australia and schools and businesses becoming involved.

She said she felt that Amelia's story had just resonated with people.

She said: "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.

"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 and we'll have over a quarter of a million by Tuesday."

Ms Grace gave her niece a lot of praise, saying that she was the bravest person she'd ever known and saying that 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."

Ms Grace said there were plans in place for the cards, which were being stored free of charge, as they would be sent out to other children after Amelia's birthday and spoke about some of the most notable ones, as well as what Amelia means to her.

She said: "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.

"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.

"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."

Anyone who wants to write a card for Amelia is asked to drop it off at one of the following locations:

• Highfield Primary School, Beeches Road, Rowley Regis, B65 0DA

• Leasowes High School, Kent Road, Halesowen, B62 8PJ