There are several ways of telling someone how appreciated they are on their birthday.
Some might opt for fancy helium balloons, a posh meal out or flashy treats, but a simple birthday card with a thoughtful message does the trick for many of us.
An appeal to make a woman's 100th birthday party extra special led to her being sent over 300 cards.
Olwen Gant celebrated the milestone of a century-year-long life at Bassett House care home on September 21.
Ahead of the big day, staff had shared a post on Facebook, asking anyone and everyone to help make this day extra special.
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They requested that anyone who could should send Olwen, affectionately known as 'Blod,' a birthday card.
On the day, there were over 300 cards from friends, family and total strangers who had joined forces to celebrate the special day at the care home in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
The great grandmother proudly received birthday congratulations from all over the UK.
Her great-grandchildren are not related by blood but rather inherited from an incredible act of love and compassion dating back to the second world war.
Kassandra Stallard said that during WW2, her grandmother was evacuated to Wales where Blod’s family looked after her. And from there Blod and Kassandra’s grandmother were inseparable.
Kassandra, 38, said: “It was a very emotional day, I just can’t get my head around it.
“I’ve got this knot in my stomach. The care home has been amazing. I’ve been into care homes before where I wouldn’t put my dog in there, but they are amazing at Bassett House.
“Empathy and compassion go a long way. There was dancing and the care home brought a buffet out. It was just lovely.
“It was the care home’s idea to put a post on social media and from there we all shared it. She’s received over 300 and they’re still coming.”
The power of social media resulted in a family as far as Scotland and Texas responding to the post and sending Blod a birthday card.
Blod even opened a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth herself.
The century-old Welsh woman sported a lovely black floral dress, tiara, sash and bright pink hair.
Even the mayor came to wish Blod the happiest of birthdays which Bassett House went to every length to mark.
Kassandra added: “We opened them all and read them out. Blod was totally amazed, gobsmacked actually.
“I don’t think she realised they were for here– I kept saying to her 'this is all for you'.
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