DEVIZES mum Rachel Corbett, whose young daughter has undergone cancer care, is supporting the initiative of another mother who has launched Sunshine Sacks to bring festive cheer to families of sick children.

Mrs Corbett, whose daughter Suki, five, was treated alongside the child of Gabby Fisher is backing the work to bring fun gifts to families of children with cancer who will spend this Christmas in hospitals across the south west.

Mum of two Mrs Fisher, from Staverton, near Trowbridge, knows from her own experience how gloomy Christmas can be for a family supporting one of their children through cancer treatment.

Her young daughter Matilda was diagnosed in December 2016 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and the whole family, including baby Marley spent Christmas on an oncology and haematology ward at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

A year on, four-year-old Matilda is in the final maintenance stage of her treatment, which continues until 2019, and Mrs Fisher's thoughts have turned to others facing a similar situation.

She has enlisted Mrs Corbett to help her and the dream is now becoming a reality. She said: "To start with I simply posted the idea on my blog, hoping for some feedback.

"To say that I have been overwhelmed by the response would be an understatement. I have received so many offers of support and have been genuinely touched by the generosity of friends, family members and a whole host of complete strangers. Our initial target was 50 bags, which I thought might be ambitious, but we’ve already been promised far more than that and hope that this Christmas campaign will just be the start for Sunshine Sacks.”

Anyone who would like to support the two mums should provide a festive gift bag containing at least four 'eat me' items such as mince pies, chocolates, Christmas pudding or other edible treats. Four 'drink me' items such as speciality tea or coffee, soft drinks or cordial and two 'entertain me' items such as a family game, Christmas DVD or Christmas decorations.

A spokesman for Sunshine Sacks said: "All items should be new, sealed, within any use by date and individually packed where possible. Items should be unisex and suitable for the whole family, and should not include any items requiring fridge/freezer storage or any alcoholic drinks. Completed bags can be delivered to one of ten designated collection points across Trowbridge, Melksham, Frome, Chippenham, Devizes, Bath and Bristol before December 14."

Drop off points include accountants JS Weeks in St John's Street, Devizes, The management office of Emery Gate, Chippenham, The Royal United Hospital radiotherapy unit, Bath, Sainsburys, Trowbridge and Staverton Primary School.

Other collection points: Bath; Catering Services International, BA1 5LS; Bristol; Creditcall Ltd, BS1 4RW; Frome, Cheese & Grain, BA11; Melksham, Belle of the Ball Bridals, SN12 6JU; Trowbridge, The Bridal Lounge, BA14 8BU