Woman's eight-year kindness mission brings smiles
Beth Graham from Oldham has spent eight years leaving kindness packages and cards for strangers, helping those struggling with mental and physical health.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Beth Graham from Oldham has spent eight years carrying out random acts of kindness, leaving gifts and cards for strangers to find. What began as a school project to brighten the world for others, while she was dealing with her own chronic health issues, has grown into a mission that has brought her to tears.
She sends out free kindness packages and cards to people struggling with their mental and physical health. She also leaves random kind gifts outdoors wherever she goes. One message she received told of someone who found one of her gifts while taking their dog for a final walk before having it put down. Beth said the message made her cry, but also showed how her small acts could help in difficult times.
Beth relies on fundraising and donations to pay for what she gives out. She has also sought to help those forced to stay in hospital. Her father, Jamie, said she would not want anything for it, but the fact that she does it makes her happy, and it makes other people happy too.
Among those helped is Lee Yates from Stockport. He and his wife had previously met Beth, then received unexpected kindness during their own tough times. He said it means a lot when you are in a bad place and someone outside realises you are having a bad time and does something about it.
Beth wants to keep making those gestures, lifting someone else's day one random act at a time.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Beth began her acts of kindness in 2018. | |
| Beth has helped people who are forced to stay in hospital. | |
| Beth relies on fundraising and donations for her kindness packages. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 focused on the emotional impact of Beth's kindness, including a moving story about a dog walker, and highlighted her father's pride and the support of recipients. The tone was warm and celebratory, ending with a presenter's commendation.
- “It just makes me so happy like it just fills me with so much joy you know to be able to bring a smile to someone who may need it.”
- “Well done Beth, small things really can make a difference.”
- “It means a lot when you're in a bad place and there's someone outside looking in realising that someone's having a bad time and does something about it.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.