Santa's littlest helper brings a smile to children in hospital at Christmas

Hannah with just some of her gifts for other children

Hannah Robinson, a five-year-old patient at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, will become Santa’s littlest helper when she hands out presents she has bought through her own fundraising efforts.

She got the idea to give out presents after narrowly avoiding having to spend Christmas in hospital last year.

Hannah says: “I was worried that other children weren’t going to get presents at Christmas, so I asked Mummy how we could help them. I just really wanted to make the other children happy.”

After setting up Hannah’s Hope Appeal, Hannah has been collecting donations from friends and family and at after-school clubs. She will give out the colouring books, pens and other gifts to children in the hospital on 23 December.

Hannah suffers from a rare genetic condition called MCADD that prevents her from effectively breaking down fatty acids for energy. There’s no cure but by eating every few hours, she can keep the condition under control. Evelina London is one of the biggest centres in the UK for the treatment of children with inherited metabolic diseases like Hannah.

Debbie Komaromy, head of nursing for children’s medicine and neonatology, said: “It’s so nice of Hannah to come back this Christmas to put a smile on children’s faces. We’re looking forward to welcoming her – not as a patient this time – when she gives out all her presents”