Mike grew up in care and wants to make it so every child can smile on Christmas day
A Hull man is gearing up to take boxes of chocolates around children’s wards and children’s homes across the city. Mike Barley, 57, said he hopes to “put a smile on those little faces” with the Christmas present drop-off on Saturday, December 20.
The gift-giving was made possible due to people leaving donations at drop-off points, such as Morrisons in Holderness Road. He said the Christmas countdown had gone really well, and he almost had “too many donations”.
He will be visiting Acorn Ward and Woodlands Ward at Hull Royal Infirmary. He will also be taking sweets and gifts to 55 children at Sunshine House in Walker Street, and 29 children at the nearby Inspire Inpatient Unit.
Mike spent much of his childhood in care and remembers at Christmas he would “get only one present”. Mike said: “I’ve been in kids’ homes all my life, so I am giving kids what I never had.”
With everything pretty much ready, Mike said he just needs to put festive lights on his van before the weekend. He thanked Tony from Men In Sheds who made custom signs for the van.
In total, more than 400 selection boxes have been donated so far. Mike has also been helped by the biker community in Hull who have been transporting the donations from the collection points.
Mike will be dressed up as The Grinch when he visits the children’s homes and hospitals. “He steals everybody’s Christmas, but I do the opposite. I give everyone a Christmas,” he explained.
He added: “The kids love it. The mums and dads ask me for photos and everything. My own kids say they are so proud of me, but I say you don’t need to be proud of me, I just do something I never used to get.”
Mike was also one of the bikers who took part in the Hull 4 Heroes annual Santa Run on Saturday, December 13. The convoy followed Santa’s sleigh on a route from Withernsea to Hull, with everyone dressed up in festive outfits.
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