Appeal for Canadian-Cumbrian centenarian produces avalanche of birthday cards

A birthday card appeal for a Cumbrian woman living in Canada has resulted in a deluge of cards.

Marjorie Try's granddaughter, Kaitlyn, wanted to surprise her with 100 birthday cards for 100 years of life, appealing to old friends from Penrith.

The appeal went worldwide and cards began arriving from Hawaii, Germany and the United States.

By her birthday earlier this month, she had received 282 cards and more are still arriving.

Marjorie's granddaughter Kaitlyn Williams said the response was "so much more than I could have ever hoped for".

Marjorie Try (formerly Dodd) moved to North America in 1955 after growing up in the village of Tirril, near Penrith.

After posting her appeal in a Penrith Facebook group, Kaitlyn said: "So many people commented about how they knew the family, sharing stories and fond memories."

She also got talking to a woman whose mother, Doreen Robinson, was around the same age as Marjorie and grew up in the same small village.

The woman looked through her old photo albums and discovered three pictures of Marjorie and Doreen together when they were growing up.

By Marjorie's birthday on 8 November, cards had arrived from 82 different places, including schools in Canada and family friends in Cumbria.

Kaitlyn said: "Nanny really enjoyed her birthday party and could not believe all of those cards were just for her.

"The amount of support and love I have received regarding this project has been just amazing," she said.

"These cards will give her something to occupy herself with and look at for months to come."

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