CHILDREN in hospital over Christmas are in for an extra treat - thanks to Bradford mum Karen Carr.

Karen lost her daughter Megan to cancer around Christmas two years ago.

And now she wants to spread a little festive cheer in memory of the tragic teenager.

Helped by family and friends, Karen has been collecting selection boxes which she plans to take to hospitals and hospices in Bradford and Leeds to cheer up youngsters on the wards.

In addition, she has been collecting cash which will be shared out with various cancer charities and causes.

“It won’t be much. It might only be £50 for each cause but it all adds up,” said Karen, who lives in Thornton.

At Easter, she and her supporters donated chocolate eggs to children in hospital.

“So I thought that coming up to Christmas it would be nice to have selection boxes for youngsters in hospital over the holiday time,” said Karen, who is 53.

From a cold start a couple of weeks ago, Karen has amassed more than 300 boxes of goodies and collected around £300 through a PayPal scheme.

“It is all adding up very quickly,” she said.

“It is just a bit of something from me at this special time of year.

"But I couldn’t have done this without family and friends, who have been brilliant. I have also had boxes from neighbours and even strangers.”

Megan died in 2017 at the of 17, having had cancer since she was 15. Karen has been fundraising ever since.

In the summer, she completed the 5k Race for Life in Bradford, raising £5,000 in Megan’s memory.

The Race for Life is especially poignant for the family as it was Megan herself who officially started the race back in 2016 to inspire others battling cancer.

Karen now plans to tackle that challenge again next year and will probably consider other events to raise money.

“When you have lost a child you have terrible days and not-so-bad days,” she said. “The house is full of photos of Megan and her memory is always here.”

In a couple of weeks time, Karen and her son, Ryan, will start taking the selection boxes to the children’s ward at BRI, wards 31 to 33 at Leeds Infirmary, Marie Curie Hospice, Manorlands Hospice and any left to Leeds-based Candlelighters.

The money will be going to Martin House Hospice, Children with Cancer UK, Sands stillbirth charity, CLIC Sargent, Yorkshire brain tumour research and the Buttercup Trust.

Anyone who wants to donate through PayPal can do so via: karencarr123.kc@gmail.com