December 2025
Hello and welcome to the last monthly newsletter of this year. We hope you have enjoyed reading our newsletters and learning more about how your support enables us to do what we do. Hope you have had the best month possible. Sending our love and best wishes to those struggling during what can be a difficult time of the year.
Smiles
10 Smiles were sent to both ME sufferers and carers of all ages this month. All chosen and personalised to fit each person’s likes and interests. Some of the items sent this month included plants, plant pot, Lego sets, colouring books, pens, notebooks, cross stitch kit, jigsaw, face masks, gua sha, hair care, body lotion, socks, mugs, tea, coffee, biscuits and chocolates.
Special touch
In our Smiles we include a token item donated by someone affected by ME as a special touch from our community.
Included in the Smiles sent this month was a handmade keryring by Shirley Kay Mosaics. Thank you Shirley for spreading a smile with your wonderful keyrings.
“Thank you so much for the amazing box. It was a brilliant surprise on a day I am not feeling great. I love everything and am still smiling!”
“My mum opened her presents when she got home from work and had a little cry. It’s a very sweet thing you do. Thank you so much for helping me show her how appreciative I am of her and her support.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Katie LOVES her beautiful, carefully chosen perfect gifts! She is still smiling ,wrapped up in her pink, fluffy soft blanket, smelling gorgeous after her hair treatments, and enjoying her chocolate in bed. We are so, so grateful for your kindness.”
“Thankyou so much for my daughters December parcel it really did put a smile on her face x she loved the notebook and pens and has been wearing the bed socks which are really cosy . Thankyou xx”
2025 Smiles
180 Smiles were sent to both ME sufferers and their carers throughout 2025. These included our regular monthly Smiles, Smiles in memory of Merryn Crofts as part of our Merryn’s Smile Day and our Carers Week Smiles.
Each Smile we send is special to us as we personally customise each one. We do our best to thoughtfully choose presents for the recipients, ensuring that they are appropriate from the information we receive from the nominator. They are then wrapped and posted with love hoping to brighten a day and remind people they are thought of.
Thank you to all the Smile recipients this year who have kindly sent messages or pictures after receiving your Smiles and given us permission to share them. Not only does it touch us to hear or see your Smiles have reached you safely and made you smile but we also love being able to share them to show people supporting where their money goes. There is never any pressure from us to share about your Smile, we completely understand the people who prefer to be private and we are just as grateful for the private messages. Please note if you do have a private social media account, even if we are tagged, we are unable to see your post due to your privacy settings. Please send it to us directly instead if you wish to share with us, thank you.
Smile of the year
What’s made you smile this year?
Thank you’s
A big thank you to Team SalShirl who held a brilliant fundraiser within the Parents of children with ME/CFS support group. They raised an incredible £813.42 adding gift aid to make it £1,016.77 by selling these wonderful keyrings produced with Shirley Kay Mosaic’s design. 
Sally and Shirley we are really touched by the kind support you have continuously shown us. You’ve become the biggest fundraisers we’ve ever had, you’re incredible. We can’t thank you enough for making such a difference and for funding many Smiles, we are really grateful. Thank you to the Parents of children with ME/CFS support group for your generous support to help make Team SalShirl’s fundraiser such a success.
A special thank you to everyone who has donated, fundraised, supported on social media, nominated someone affected by ME for a Smile and donated items to include in our Smiles. Your support this year means more than words can say. We would not be able to do what we do without the kindness and generosity you show us. Thank you so very much.
