A perfect birthday surprise for kind-hearted Janae

Seven-year-old Janae Nolan has been giving out messages of support to her aunt's colleagues at Asda in Chadderton during the lockdown.

So, when they heard that the doll's house her mum Jodie had ordered from another shop wouldn't arrive in time for her birthday, they pulled out all the stops to buy it for her themselves to say thank you for her kindness.

They tracked down a similar doll's house at the nearby Asda Living store at Elk Mill, had a whip round raising £70 to pay for it as well as £115 for some other birthday presents.

Then they surprised Janae when she called in at the store with Jodie on one of their regular shopping trips – making a special tannoy announcement, singing happy birthday, sending her birthday greetings, and revealing the surprise.

Jodie says the experience was truly wonderful and is something that her family would never forget.

Colleagues at the store, where Janae's aunt Michelle works, have got to know Janae well over the last few months.

Since lockdown began, she's been handing out her homemade thank-you cards to the keyworkers at the store when she calls in with Jodie on their weekly shopping trips.

She's also been making cards for the team at Manchester Children's Hospital, where her 12-year-old brother Jaden goes for regular appointments for a number of health issues.

Jodie said: "She just wanted to make everyone smile... and she did!

"She's made people smile and cry.

"The cards simply said "Thank you key worker, you're the best – love Janae!

"When she first started doing them she was writing them out, but as she was giving more and more out she realised that this was wasn't doable so we bought a printer.

"She cut them out with zig-zag craft scissors and put them in a little pouch on her belt and every time we saw someone in a uniform or someone who was working she would give them one.

"I work at a school and Janae has given some of the cards to my colleagues and teachers there too.

"I am unbelievably proud of her. Everywhere we go people say 'Hi Janae' and wave.

"She's so humble about it all too, she doesn't think what she's done is such a big thing."

Jodie says the gesture from colleagues at Asda in Chadderton when they found out that the doll's house she'd ordered elsewhere for 'Barbie-obsessed' Janae had fallen through was extraordinary.

"For the whole of the Chadderton store to come together and do that for Janae and not make us pay for it was wonderful," said Jodie.

"She is mad on Barbie – that's all that she wanted for her birthday."

Jodie built the house and Michelle wrapped it up then took it to the store ready for Janae to collect (see picture above).

Store manager Miranda Jarratt says everyone at the store has been touched by Janae's kindness.

She said: "The little cards made by Janae thanking key workers were such a beautiful and thoughtful thing for a little girl to do.

"Many of the colleagues here wore them next to their name badges.

"When we found out about her doll's house we made sure we got one from one of our Living Stores – and then the colleagues decided to chip in and pay for it which was a lovely gesture.

"When Janae came into store to pick it up we made a real fuss of her and sang happy birthday.

"I said a few words over the tannoy telling people what she had done.

"She really deserved all the attention, as she's been so kind."

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