Many appeals land in inboxes the world over about seriously and terminally ill children seeking to collect written correspondence during their illnesses.
More often than not, information is outdated or outright false, with the drive to participate in a simple charitable act creating massive headaches for those who sort, process and deliver mail, as well as those on the receiving end of the deluge. One such notable case is Craig Shergold, a child who sought to collect greeting cards for a Guinness World Record twenty years ago and who remains the target of ill-informed well wishers .
Although Craig Shergold is alive and well at the age of 30, the current plea circulating via e-mail and on Facebook for Christmas cards on behalf of a child named Noah Biorkman is genuine and current. Noah Biorkman is a 5-year-old boy suffering from terminal stage four neuroblastoma. Sadly, Noah is unlikely to survive into the new year, and his mother has put out a request for Christmas cards for the family’s Christmas celebration this weekend. The following request was posted on WKSR.com:
Christmas will come early for a five year old Michigan boy this year. Noah Biorkman is battling cancer and is not expected to live much longer.
Noah’s mother and WKSR morning personality Ed Carter went to school together years ago. They keep in touch by email. She mentioned the early Christmas for her son in an email to Ed today.
Mrs. Biorkman is asking for Christmas cards for her son. If you would like to take time to send a card or letter, send it to:
Noah Biorkman 1141 Fountain View Circle South Lyon Michigan, 48178
Snopes has verified the request , and Noah’s plea has been in the news across the country. Not surprisingly, Noah Biorkman’s family has also been dropped in on by well meaning strangers who wish to visit with the child. Although the correspondence is currently welcome, Noah’s family is understandably asking people to please not visit them at their home.
