THE father of a seriously ill 10-year-old girl from Over Peover is urging the public to send her cards so she knows how loved she is this Christmas.

Sophie Jackson, a pupil at Goostrey Primary School, has been unconscious for two weeks following a heart attack at her home on Holmes Chapel Road.

Her father, Alan, is hoping to receive 1,000 cards to read out to her for what could be her last Christmas.

Following a Facebook appeal and national news coverage, the family has now received more than 400 cards and they continue to flood in.

Alan said: “I only started the appeal on Thursday. The cards are so that when we are sat here at the side of the bed we can tell her that people are thinking of her and how well she is loved and what impact she has had on everyone she’s met.”

Sophie was born unable to swallow and was shortly after diagnosed with a congenital muscle disease, which affects all of the muscles in her body apart from her eyes, her ears and her brain.

“Mental maths was always her favourite,” said Alan. “It was the perfect subject for her at Goostrey Primary School.

“They have been fantastic and so supportive. We have already received 50 to 60 cards from them and a few pupils, Sophie’s friends, have come along.

“It is a very traumatic time.”

Now in Manchester Children’s Hospital intensive care unit, Sophie had a heart attack on December 1 on what seemed like a normal day.

Alan added: “She had come home from school absolutely buzzing and all then all of a sudden it just happened.

“She is still unconscious two weeks later. We do not know what will happen but she can hear us, and she knows we are here.”

For the card appeal, Alan has enlisted the help of Knutsford sorting office manager who is helping to collect the cards and get them delivered to the hospital.

Anyone who would like to send a card should address it to ‘Sophie Jackson’ and send it to the Knutsford sorting office at Parkgate, Knutsford, WA16 8AA or to drop the card in at the office.

After struggling to get the support they needed, Sophie’s parents set up Complete Aid Services five years ago to arrange care for families in similar situations.

To find out more visit completeaidservices.co.uk