Girl who received 304,000 birthday cards dies two weeks after turning eight

A little girl with cancer who received hundreds of thousands of birthday cards has died just two weeks after turning eight.

Amelia Kolpa passed away surrounded by her family at 5pm yesterday after battling stage-4 high-risk neuroblastoma since she was two years old.

To celebrate her eighth birthday this year, while under palliative care, the youngster said she wanted to try to break the world record for the most birthday cards ever received.

She had been hoping to get around 8,000 cards, but smashed her target after being sent more than 300,000 by well-wishers from all over the world.

An online appeal by her family had encouraged people to drop off cards at three locations in her local area in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, but within a few days, the campaign went viral.

Hundreds of motorcyclists handed more than 60,000 cards to Amelia last month, but mum Katarzyna Bartczak was left stunned after the family also started getting cards from across the globe, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Yesterday, Amelia’s mum took to social media to share the news that Amelia was ‘no longer suffering’.

Katarzyna wrote: ‘My dear ones, I’m writing this with a pain that words cannot describe. Today at 5:00 PM, our beloved, bravest little warrior – Amelia – passed away. She has put on her angel wings.

‘She is no longer suffering. She is no longer in pain. She is in a place where everything is beautiful, peaceful, and full of light. For nearly 6 years, she fought with a strength beyond imagination.

‘Every single day, she showed us what true courage looks like. She showed the whole world that even the smallest heart can hold the greatest power.

‘And that love – pure, unconditional love – truly overcomes everything. Our dearest Amelia, you were and always will be our greatest miracle. Our heart. Our light.’

Amelia’s school, Highfields Primary School, in Rowley Regis, posted a tribute on social media.

‘It is with very heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of one of our much-loved children, Amelia, who bravely fought Neuroblastoma,’ the school wrote.

‘Amelia has been a special part of our school community for many years. Several members of staff first remember her as a tiny baby on the playground, happily accompanying her older siblings into Highfields.

‘We have had the privilege of following her journey since she first joined us in Nursery, watching her grow and flourish into the wonderful young girl she became.

‘Throughout everything she faced, Amelia showed incredible strength and courage. What so many of us will remember most, however, is her beautiful smile.’

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