SEVEN years since the first reindeer was carved in Bridgerule, the sale of the Cholwill’s Christmas reindeer has grown — with an estimated 3,000 being sold in that time raising £43,375 for Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Harbour.

The whole family have got involved and the grandchildren are keen to help children less fortunate than themselves.

It is thanks to the support of family and friends that the reindeer have evolved over the years, raising more and more funding for Cornwall’s only children’s hospice. Sheila Cholwill and a few friends began knitting scarves for the reindeers to personalise them even more.

Word soon got around and others wanted to help too and today scarves are being donated from as far as Jersey and all parts of Devon and Cornwall. So much so that some of the ladies now like to knit scarves all the year round.

Ladies who may have rheumatoid arthritis find that knitting helps them and in doing so helps the children at Little Harbour.

Reminiscing, Sheila said: “So, seven years from the first reindeer being carved and approximately 3,000 reindeers being sold to our lovely supporters. Christmas 2019 has seen us reach a total of £43,375 for Little Harbour where Claire [Kilbey, head of care at Little Harbour] and her staff purchase items that they feel will enhance the lives of the sick children and their families when coming to stay at Little Harbour.

“We are very grateful now that a few close friends have also come on board to help us and due to our own wood becoming exhausted other farmers have kindly begun to donate wood to us.”

The only expense taken out is the cost of the wooden noses and the cost of the eyes which this year alone amounted to £500.

Sheila said: “2001 remains the saddest time of our lives but the loss of Mark has been the inspiration for Cholwill’s Christmas Reindeers.”

The family has expressed its thanks to everyone for their continued support — several of which came back this year to purchase their fourth reindeer and a few have even bought one each year since 2012.

But work doesn’t stop for the Cholwill family with orders still flooding in. Some even couldn’t wait until Christmas 2020 and on New Year’s Day a lady came from Penzance to collect hers in person and just a few weeks ago a family from Falmouth who were celebrating a late Christmas due to illness came for one but after seeing another in the workshop wanted that one too.

Last year’s sales for Christmas 2019 of £7,500 have helped push the family one step closer to the £50,000 mark.