- Be careful what you wish for...
-
This is a story about a 9-year old English boy
afflicted with a terminal brain tumor. His name is Craig Shergold and he wants to
make it into the Guinness Book of World Records for having received the most greeting
cards and business cards. To date, it is estimated that he has received well over
250 million cards, but there is one problem...this appeal was made nearly a decade ago and
Craig, now a man, had his tumor successfully removed in March, 1991.
The fact that Craig was cured 8-years ago doesn't
really seem to matter, he keeps receiving cards by the truckload from well-intentioned
folks worldwide. The following are two sample letters collected off of the internet:
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Sample #1
I am writing this article to
request something for a terminaly ill boy.
Craig Shergold is a seven
year old boy who has terminal cancer. His ambition before he dies is to be included in the
Guinness Book of Records as having the largest collection of business cards.
My request is that EVERYONE
who reads this posting send at least one business card to him at:
Craig Shergold
c/o Children's Make a Wish Foundation
2 Perimeter Center East
Atlanta, GA 30346
Let's make a child's dream
come true before its too late.
Best wishes.
A hopeful person.
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Sample #2
Craig Sherford is 7 years
old. He has a brain Tumor and has little time to live. Craig contacted the Children's Make
A Wish Foundation and expressed his desire to have an entry in the Guineas Book of World
Records for the largest collection of business cards by an individual. please help Craig's
wish come true by sending your business card to:
Craig Sherford
c/o Children's Make A wish Foundation
3200 Oerineter Center East
Atlanta, GA 30346
Thanks for making a wish come
true.....
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| While looking over the samples you may have noticed a few
changes. Craig's name has been changed throughout the years to: Craig Shirgold,
Craig Sherford, Craig Shelford, Craig Stafford, Greg Sherold, Greg Sherwood and many
others. Some have even morphed into something completely dissimilar like John Craig,
but a quick look at where to send your cards should settle matters.
The original letters requested that you send
the cards directly to Craig on Shelby Road in Carshalton, England, but somewhere along the
way the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Perimeter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, became connected
to this legend, much to their shagrin.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has never truly been
involved in this appeal and they have made several attempts to request that "people
please stop sending business cards or greeting cards to Craig Shergold." In an
attempt to recover lost manpower devoted to the onslaught of Craig Shergold requests, they
have set up a special 800-number to call (1-800-215-1333, ext 5184) and a website (see
link section below).
If you happen to receive a request on Craig's
behalf, be kind to the sender, their intentions are good, however, you may want to direct
them to this website or any of the other links listed below.
The lesson to be learned from this story...be
careful what you wish for, it may come true!
-The Folklorist |
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