Once upon a time…
In Lapland, Santa Claus was working hard as usual with his elves to get the presents ready to load aboard his sleigh. Just then, his head elf, Alabaster Snowball, skipped into the workshop with the sack of mail that arrived every day from excited young children asking for the usual toys and games to fill their stockings.
It was time for Santa’s morning hot chocolate and so he sat down to read a few of the letters. An envelope with a postmark from the Algarve caught his eye and he recognised the writing; it was not from a child. He eagerly opened it and, sure enough, saw that it was from his cousin Tom Henshaw. When Santa or St Nick, as he was then, moved to Lapland hundreds of years ago to build his toy factory, Old Father Tom moved to Portugal to start Tomorrow magazine.
Tom’s letter told Santa all about his efforts that year to raise money for the children of the Algarve who needed it most. The children at NECI who have disabilities, handicaps or developmental delays in childhood, and the fantastic school that values their potential and promotes their skills. The children at CASLAS residential home who will not be with their families this Christmas. Tom also told Santa about Alice, Vicente and Constança, who all have rare genetic conditions and how the Tomorrow Snowball had raised 7500€ to help them with the therapies they need. This year, Constança will have a much happier Christmas as the money raised from last year’s ball helped her walk again.
Santa’s eyes filled with tears at the news of all the children his cousin was helping in the Algarve and he promised to do a special fly-by over the beach for Tom and the children on Christmas Eve. And as Santa flew over Praia da Luz beach in the sunshine, he and the elves waved to cousin Tom, who always wore a green hat on Christmas day to reflect his English heritage.
And so Tom and Santa reflected on another successful year of giving and promised to meet in the New Year for a catch-up and a well-deserved glass of port.
The End
