So, 3 years ago today, all this began…
Jack said today:
“I can’t believe that Jack Draws Anything is 3 years old. I am 9 now and my website is 3! Hello everyone who still finds my website and thank you for all the donations! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) is still accepting donations and Jack’s JustGiving page is always open. Thank you.
Despite being very quiet these last few months, Jack took some time during his Summer holiday to complete some new drawings.
These doodles were requested by the Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) for a Charity Auction and featured famous British Golfers.
The auction took place during the Archerfield Sick Kids Invitational Pro–Am in Jack’s old stomping ground of East Lothian, Scotland.
Jack completed nine pictures and Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) managed to get seven of them signed by the Golfers themselves.
The Golfers in question were Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Darren Clarke, Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
Jack did complete two other pictures, of Luke Donald and Colin Montgomerie which were unfortunately unable to be signed.
At the Auction itself, a mystery buyer donated a wonderful sum of £13,000 for the set of seven Jack pictures, complete with authentic Golfer autographs.
This now takes Jack’s fundraising to almost £65,000 (including Gift Aid).
Jack is very happy with his drawings and had great fun with these Golfers. He is still happy to help out Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) whenever he can.
Maureen Harrison, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) added “Huge thanks to Jack for this tremendous contribution! This is an amazing amount and we will put this donation to a very good use.”
There are nine drawings in total and Jack calls these his Golf Collection. Fore!
Scottish Golfer — Sandy Lyle (or Sandy Lions as Jack calls him) (#2 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Northern Irish Golfer — Rory McIlroy (#6 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Thank you to the Rory Foundation for tweeting this picture!
English Golfer — Nick Faldo (#4 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
English Golfer — Luke Donald (#3 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
English Golfer — Lee Westwood (#8 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
English Golfer — Justin Rose (#9 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Welsh Golfer — Ian Woosnam (or Ieuan Woodstamp as Jack calls him) (#5 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Northern Irish Golfer — Darren Clarke (#7 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Darren Clarke (#7 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’)
Scottish Golfer — Colin Montgomerie (#2 from Jack’s ‘Golf Collection’) and part of No bogeys as Jack chips in with £13,000 for the Sick Kids with 7 good draws!
Jack and family have now been in California for just over 8 months. This is the longest Jack’s wee brother, 4–year–old Noah has gone without needing to go to the hospital with breathing problems. Last weekend we had our first experience of an American ER.
Noah had managed to pick up Pneumonia and by Saturday 3am, his breathing deteriorated to the point where Dad rushed him to our local hospital.
Thankfully after good care and quick medicine, Noah is on the mend and out of hospital now. But at the time, like it is EVERYTIME he needs to go to hospital, it can be very scary.
As Noah was recovering after his medicine and treatment, he was super–bored as there was literally nothing to do in the ER for kids.
He did watch the Policeman in the next room looking after a handcuffed prisoner and the lady over the corridor asking for beer instead of medicine.
Noah asked over and over for some books, crayons or toys.
After a while even my iPhone proved boring and he asked to go to the other hospital with the toys!
You can see by our own real–life example how important dedicated kids hospitals are. Especially Edinburgh’s finest — the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
The work that they do, with the support of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) is vital to the recovery of many children (and their families).
We have received SO MANY messages from former Sick Kids patients, now grown–ups themselves, who have heard about Jack and want to say THANK YOU for his fundraising, and mentioning the help the Sick Kids gave them when they were younger.
Without the Sick Kids, a lot of grown–ups would not be with us today.
If you can spare a couple of quid, Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) can put it to really good use, helping Sick Kids and their families.
You can donate anytime on Jack’s JustGiving page and we would all really appreciate it.
Sick Kids, we miss you!
This year is the 20th anniversary of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation). This is the charity which raises funds and supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, the charity & hospital which Jack has been fundraising for.
This week sees the Sick Kids Friends Foundation Heroes of the Hospital 20th Anniversary Awards. The awards highlight just how many special patients, parents, staff, volunteers and supporters there has been at the Hospital and in the Community, over the last 20 years.
Jack is to be presented with a Special Recognition Award in light of his fundraising over the last few years.
Since Jack is unable to make the Awards Ceremony & Lunch, he has made a little video which hopefully gets played on the day. If not, here it is now!
Jack’s acceptance speech for his Special Recognition at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation Heroes of the Hospital 20th Anniversary Awards
The inscription on Jack’s award reads In recognition of the wonderful, unique Jack Draws Anything fundraising campaign.
Jack and all his family would like to say a big well done to all the nominees, Award winners and Sick Kids supporters. Thank you to Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) for their recognition. We hope everyone has a nice time at the event.
We hope Jack’s Grandma & Grandad will be kind enough to bring his Award over to California when they visit in the Summer.
Thank you very much for a nice 2012 and raising lots more money for the Sick Kids. Thank you for my Pride of Britain award and to everyone who bought my book and donated.
Love Jack, xxxxxxxxxx.
Article and text taken from Scottish Sun (dated 13 December 2012) and reproduced with permission.
SUPERKID Jack Henderson has doodled up a special treat for The Scottish Sun — after designing our Christmas Cards.
Now WE are helping raise funds for Jack’s favourite charity too by making a donation to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in Edinburgh for every card sent out this year.
Arty Jack, eight, became an Internet sensation when he began selling his drawings on-line to help raise money for Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital.
His wee brother Noah was a regular patient with severe bouts of bronchiolitis.
The family re-located to America earlier this year, but Jack’s fundraising still goes on.
His pledge to raise £100 towards the Sick Kids Friends Foundation has smashed every target as orders for his art went through the roof.
To date, Jack has raised £46,277 and picked up a host of awards, including the Scottish Sun’s Bighearted Scotland Child of the Year runner-up Winner.
Jack beamed: I’m really pleased to draw a special Christmas card for the Scottish Sun — and I hope the readers like it. I started drawing because my little brother Noah went to hospital lots. He can’t breathe very well sometimes. Every time he went in I thought he was going to die.
Jack’s dad Ed, 35, mum Rose, 35, and brothers Toby, four, and Noah, three, now live in San Fransisco.
Ed said: Jack created Scotty the Scottish Christmas Tree complete with baubles and a Sun at the top instead of a star. He drew the pot the tree lives in with the same colours as the newspaper.
Jack added: I am happy to draw a Christmas card design for The Scottish Sun and I’m really glad that it can raise more funds for the sick kids.
The East Lothian schoolboy’s collection of pictures has already sold several thousand copies in the UK and is also due to be released later this year in Korea.
Jack, seven, of Prestonpans, said:
I’m really excited my book is being sold in Brazil and I hope they like my pictures. I love Brazil, yellow is my favourite colour and the people are really friendly.
Jack has so far raised over £32,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation through drawing pictures for donations and became a global phenomenon in the process after launching the project about a year ago. Jack wanted to raise money to support the hospital his youngest brother Noah attends with breathing problems.
Jack’s Dad Ed said:
It’s fantastic that there is still interest in Jack’s project, especially on the other side the world and we are delighted to have the opportunity to raise more money for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.
The Portuguese language version of the book will go on sale in Brazil in May.
For further information, please contact Rose & Ed Henderson (Jack’s Mum & Dad), me@jackdrawsanything.com
Next year, Jack’s book–Jack Draws Anything will be translated and published by Wisdom House in Korea.
In October, Hodder Children’s Books published Jack Draws Anything, a book which contained a collection of Jack’s drawings, his story and lots of family photographs. The book further raises funds for the Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation), the hospital which cares for Jack’s brothers Toby & especially Noah.
Jack is very happy to hear that his book will be in another country and especially in another language. He cannot wait to get his hands on a copy and hopes it continues to raise more funds for the Sick Kids.
We have yet to determine if the book will be available in South and/or North Korea, more details to follow.
The Remnant Kings are an Edinburgh band who also help fundraise for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. Jack noticed you all had a playing card about your person so made sure he did that too. Thanks and he hopes you like it (and are still together).
Jack says the guy at the top is stage diving.
Six–year–old Jack Henderson of Prestonpans, East Lothian, won Child of the Year at the Bighearted Scotland Awards 2011.
Jack has raised over £30,000 since launching his website jackdrawsanything.com in March for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. A book of his drawing and charting his fundraising story also recently went on the shelves of major retailers such as Waterstones and WH Smith.
Jack said:
“I loved winning the Bighearted Scotland award, wearing a kilt and raising the money for the Sick Kids. It was a good night and I met Rhionna McCulloch and she was nice. Stephen Jardine bought me a coca cola.”
Jack mingled with hosts Kaye Adams and Stephen Jardine at the event, as well as Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and was joined in the winners’ circle by Entertainer of the Year Fred MacAulay and Business Person of the Year Sir Brian Souter.
Jack’s Dad Ed said:
“The last 8 months have been absolutely amazing. Every week I think Jack’s wee journey has reached its end then something else happens. Who would have imagined all those months ago we would be here tonight in such fine company. Jack deserves every nice word said about him and this Bighearted Award sums up his attitude and dedication to a tee. Thank you to everyone who voted for him. He had a great night and was still dancing at 1am.”
Maureen Harrison, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation) said:
“We are delighted that Jack’s fantastic fundraising has been recognised at the Bighearted Scotland Awards. He is such an amazing little boy who has captured hearts all over the world and raised over £30,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, which is a tremendous achievement. Most of all he has shown us all what a good idea combined with determination and imagination can do to help make Sick Kids better!”
Cards are sold every year by the Sick Kids Friends Foundation to raise funds for the The Royal Hospital for Sick Children (where Jack’s little brother Noah receives frequent care) and Jack is honoured to have been asked to draw a Christmas card this year. He also had a little bit of help from his brothers Toby & Noah (they helped with the stars).
Santa draws anything is now available to purchase on the Sick Kids website and in the next few days will also be available in their shop at the hospital itself.
Chief Executive Maureen Harrison said:
We are thrilled that Jack has agreed to draw a card for us this year. A very special early Christmas present for Sick Kids!
We hope you can switch your Christmas cards this year to help Jack and the Edinburgh Sick Kids.
Bad news, Jack didn’t win the Charity Champion award. He just lost out to Laura Lee (Maggies). However he did receive a special commendation for all his hard work. Goody bag, certificate & tickets to the zoo. Jack got the biggest cheer of the night!
Thank you again to Slaters for the loan of the Tuxedos.
Here are the photos, a mix of our own and the SCVO official ones.
Big thank you to Sarah Beattie-Smith over at SCVO for allowing us to use her lovely photos. All the professional looking ones are Copyright © Photo courtesy of Callum Bennetts/Maverick Photo Agency/SCVO, the shabby looking ones are Copyright © Team Hendo.
Well, its getting closer now, the book is out on October 8 (115 days to go, eep) and today we posted the first batch of Jack’s pictures to the publishers. Our scanner is no match for the super computer they have in London so off goes all 251 pictures in a big brown box. Probably the most important piece of mail Jack (or I) will ever send. It cost a whopping £22!
Jack wanted to write Sara’s name on the front and draw a hedgehog to keep the pictures safe. A guard hedgehog.
Don't worry if your picture was not in the first 251, this is not the final cut off point. There will be another picture delivery heading to Londonshire in the next few weeks.
Last week we received what we can only describe as the BIGGEST box of art supplies we have ever seen. Household name, Crayola (based in Pennsylvania, USA) had sent Jack, Toby & Noah, dozens of their products. They stood with mouths open at the amount of stuff they had received.
THANK YOU so much to Stacy Gabrielle for her kind donation. At the rate Jack goes through pens, it will probably last 2 weeks!
In true "pay it forward" style AND at Jack’s suggestion, we have gathered up a share of this donation and have passed it on to Noah’s Toddler group in Port Seton and some will find its way to the Sick Kids.
Six–year–old Jack Henderson, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, has raised the cash for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation by accepting picture requests through his website.
Within two weeks of launching the campaign, Jack had to stop taking picture requests after receiving over 500 orders for images as bizarre as a pink alien in a spaceship and lava spewing volcanoes, a pig on rollerskates to a big fairy wearing big wings sitting on a toad stool.
The site, jackdrawsanything.com, has had almost 280,000 hits from places as far flung as the Philippines, Venezuela and Zambia.
And, after hitting the £20,000 (almost £24,000 with Gift Aid included), Jack is going to spend the summer having fun, playing & finishing his drawing requests and the family are delighted with the total raised so far.
Jack’s Dad Ed said:
We cannot believe we have managed to raise this unbelievable sum of money for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. Jack is just one wee boy who had a fun fundraising idea – we could never have imagined it would take off to this extent.
Jack wanted to raise £100 to support the hospital brother Noah, aged two, regularly attends with chest problems. Jack, along with Dad Ed, Mum Rose, and middle brother Toby, three, have enjoyed a whirlwind couple of months with their fundraising efforts.
Jack has signed a book deal with international publishers Hodders Children’s Books, appeared on national television, been nominated for a Scottish charity award, met his heroes The Wiggles and appeared in Brazilian and Chinese news.
Maureen Harrison, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (previously The Sick Kids Friends Foundation), said:
What Jack has achieved is quite amazing and so kind. His way of saying thank you to the hospital for Noah’s care with his lovely drawings has not only exceeded all fundraising expectations, but has also brought worldwide publicity to the help the Sick Kids Friends Foundation supporters’ donations bring to children and families.
Huge thanks to everyone who has donated to this project and of course to Jack, who has touched the hearts of so many people.
Jack plans to finish his drawings by September and the book is due to be published in October.
Jack said:
I love drawing and am happy that my pictures have raised lots of money for the hospital.
If you would like to view Jack’s drawings, or make a donation, go to jackdrawsanything.com.
For further information, please contact Rose & Ed Henderson (Jack’s Mum & Dad), me@jackdrawsanything.com
Jack doing the Teddy Toddle in 2006 with help from Da & Mummy
This is an article taken from the Sick Kids Friends Foundation website on 26 May 2011. Thank you to them for allowing us to reproduce it.
The eighth annual Sick Kids Friends Foundation Teddy Toddle and Summer Fair 2011, sponsored by Ethicon in the Community, is to be started by artist Jack Henderson – the six–year–old drawing fanatic – who has proved an Internet phenomenon by drawing pictures for donations.
Jack, who has raised over £19,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in just two months, will sound the starter horn for his two younger brothers Noah and Toby and the rest of the toddlers and their teddies who are getting set to go walk about at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation Teddy Toddle and Summer Fair to be held at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday 4 June.
This year, the tots will be joined by stars of children’s television including the musical, multi-talented painter and decorator, ‘Spencer’ from Balamory and favourite CBeebies scientist ‘Nina’ from Nina and the Neurons.
The stars will put their best feet forward to join around 200 toddlers in raising funds for the purchase of medical equipment which will be used on brain surgery for the removal of tumours. This equipment which is like a magic pen will cost £62,000.
The Teddy Toddle is aimed at kids under six – who can choose their favourite teddy, toddle down Meadowbank running track and raise money for the Edinburgh The Royal Hospital for Sick Children – a great cause – while enjoying themselves.
Older brothers and sisters can also enjoy a sports day run by Edinburgh Leisure, a bouncy castle and games, while there will also be around 30 stalls selling a wide variety of goods to raise funds for sick kids.
Maureen Harrison, Chief Executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, added: “We’re delighted to have some of the hospital’s patients and their siblings actively take part on the day alongside our children’s favourite TV stars. Their attendance makes the cause all the more special.”
“The fact that Jack Henderson and his brothers are taking part is wonderful. Jack began fundraising for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation to say thank you for the care received by his younger brother Noah, aged two, who has been in the The Royal Hospital for Sick Children a number of times because of a respiratory illness.”
“Little did we know that when Jack put pen to paper on that very first drawing, that his campaign for donations for drawings would snowball via social media with fundraising targets far outreaching the first £100 that his parents set, when the challenge began as a bit of fun.”
“Jack has now raised close to £20,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation and his drawings have actually been made into a book and published by Hodder Publishing.”
“It’s an amazing feat for a six–year–old boy and we can’t thank the Henderson family enough. We’re delighted that all three of the boys, Jack, Noah and Toby are all coming down to support our annual Teddy Toddle which could be described as possibly the cutest event in Edinburgh!”
The Teddy Toddle and Summer Fair will take place at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday 4 June from 12 noon to 4pm.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Leon Jarmolowicz and the guys at Vivid (European marketing guys for Crayola). They sent over a big box of goodies to Jack and his brothers Toby & Noah, thank you so much for that. Jack always needs new pens and crayons so this was a well timed arrival, thank you so much.
Also, they also sent a big bundle over to our friends at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation for all the boys and girls over at the Hospital to use. Beauty mate.
And, Jack is currently taking a little bit of each pen/crayon/pencil donation he receives and is preparing a big box for the Sick Kids. In a few weeks he will be donating that to them for the kids to use. Watch this space.
Jack is in his bed right now, totally unaware of the situation. I am not going to wake him up but rest assured we will let him know in the morning that we have reached target number 5–£15,000, in 41 days. Wow.
It’s late, Rose and I need to go to bed so I’ll keep it short. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. We will post something more coherent tomorrow but right now way too tired but rest assured if you have donated, tweeted, shared, gossiped, emailed, Facebooked, phoned or helped us in the last 6 weeks, you rock. Without you and the Interweb, none of this would be possible.
As for what happens next, who knows.
THANK YOU & GOODNIGHT!
PS–donations still welcome
Thanks to the guys at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation for putting Jack as the main story!
Jack came along with Mummy today to visit Noah (and Daddy) in the Sick Kids. Jack’s job was tire Noah out so that he would have a nap, not need oxygen and allow us to bring him home. Job done Jack, great stuff.
He also brought his pens and did a drawing while he was in the Isolation Room. The lucky person who requested #103 (still to be scanned and posted) is in for a double treat. Not only will they get their request done, it would have been actually drawn within the Sick Kids itself.
Thanks again for all the support and kind words these last few days. Friends, family (thanks to Grandma and Grandad for watching the well kids) and you guys out there are immense.
(Dad)
Just a wee quick post to say that Noah is home. I wouldn't say he is well, but he was well enough to get out the Sick Kids and home to his own toys and own bed. He is still on additional meds and still coughing and spluttering but hopefully his own bed and some home cooked meals and he will be on the road to recovery.
The first thing he did when got home was play on the trampoline and ask for some Easter Eggs!
Big big thank you to all the messages of goodwill and support we have had over the last 2 days, it has been incredible, so from Rose and I–THANK YOU.
Also, thank you to my work who hopefully aren't too annoyed at me running out at 8:30am on Tuesday to rush up to the Hospital, sorry and thanks guys.
Big thank you also to all the staff at the Sick Kids who looked after us so well and ensured Noah was dealt with in the quickest and nicest way possible. Hopefully not see you soon!