Appeal launched to surprise Kathleen with 100 cards at Northampton care home for milestone birthday

A Northampton care home is asking the public to send 100 birthday cards to their oldest resident as she turns 100 next Wednesday.

Determined to put a smile on Kathleen Blunt's face, Rachel Evans from the home posted an appeal on Facebook pleading with the public to send her a birthday card so she has 100 envelopes to open on her special day.

Rachel, deputy activity coordinator at The Angela Grace care home, said: "I'm actually quite surprised, I was not expecting such a large response. It's been shared 100 times online. My phone has been going wild, I'm really pleased..

"I think we are quite limited to what we can do with social distancing in the home as we can't have a party, so we are trying to think of different ways to make it special for her.

"It's a great way to get the community involved and the response I have had within Northampton has been lovely."

Kathleen used to live in Cranford Road in Kingsthorpe and spent her working life at Barrats factory as a boot and shoe worker after leaving the Army.

Rachel added: "I've had people offer to make birthday cakes and others have messaged me to say they want to do a show online for her to make her day special.

"I have not actually told her yet so I think she will be quite overwhelmed, bless her. I have had people all over the world contact me as far as New York and Austrailia. It's really gone quite viral.

"I think I would quite like to recieve 100 birthday cards to go with the 100th birthday milestone. Any more than 100 would be absolutley fantastic. I'm not sure where she will put them all.

"Since we have had the post up we have had people post letters and cards and people have popped in with presents.”

Kathleen's daughter-in-law Sandra Blunt is married to Alan, Kathleen's only son. They haven't been able to see her in person since lockdown was announced in March.

Sandra, who has two children and one great-grandchild, said: "She has nobody else, we are a small family.

"If people want to send her a card that's great - she has always said 'I'm going to reach 100 to recieve the Queen's card'. I'm sending her 12 red roses, she has always loved them."

The address for the care home is: The Angela Grace, 4-5 Cheyne Walk, Northampton, NN1 5PT.