Sometimes it can feel as though everything we read is negative – which sometimes blocks out the good that is happening around us.
It does appear there are a lot of stories which involve crime or loss, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything good hasn't happened.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 10 heart-warming positive stories Sutton Guardian has reported on this year as 2018 winds to a close in a few months’ time.
Although this isn’t comprehensive, and not in any order whatsoever, we hope it sheds list on things you might’ve missed or would love reading again.
1. Heroic schoolboy, 15, saves grandmother and baby from house fire in Carshalton
Back in March, a boy was on his way to school when he took the decision to help save a grandmother and a baby from a fire in Carshalton.
By the time he’d told his mum, and she’d told the fire brigade who arrived later, he was already in the house getting the two out of there.
Read more here.
2. Former Kingston and St Helier hospitals junior doctor leaves ‘extraordinary legacy’
Mark Sims died after a nearly two-year battle with skin cancer but still managed to have a huge effect on people’s lives.
The 28-year-old, who passed away last January, wrote a book which is now being published posthumously by his family and helped raise £20,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Read more here.
3. ‘Benji’s Magic Ears’ fundraising campaign smashes £80,000 target
The three-year-old boy needed cochlear implants before his birthday this June, and his mum set up a JustGiving page to help pay for the expensive procedure.
It worked, the fundraising target was reached, and he got his ‘magic ears’ in the end.
Read more here.
4. Ex-‘spy’ leaves £455,000 in her will to Worcester Park hospice
A life led by an extraordinary woman who lost her father at 13 and discovered her brother had learning disabilities which required care and supervision.
She went undercover with a secret organisation during the Second World War before leaving after nearly 40 years to take care of her younger sibling.
But it was after she passed away that the hospice she had supported for 15 years got a big surprise.
Read more here.
5. Sutton police cadet, 16, honoured after man went into seizure in supermarket car park
This young man was one of 130 young people from across south London who was honoured for their efforts at an awards ceremony in February.
It wasn’t once, but twice he used his skills to help people desperately in need of medical assistance – with one of them describing him as their “guardian angel”.
Read more here.
6. Couple raises £20,000 to help transform St Helier Hospital maternity room
Hollie Perry and partner Scott Eyre lost their daughter to a rare condition but they decided to give back to the hospital which helped them through heart-breaking times.
They raised thousands of pounds to see the maternity ward’s bereavement ward at the hospital revamped in a bid to help other families who were going through similar pain.
Read about it here.
7. 11 St Helier Hospital midwives smash £10,000 fundraising target by walking ‘non-stop’ around Isle of Wight
Named Team ‘One More Push!’, they completed a gruelling 67-mile trek on International Day of the Midwife.
It took 37 hours during bank holiday weekend in May earlier this year, in very hot conditions, but more than £11,000 was raised by the group.
Read about it here.
8. ‘Miracle’ dog who had four major surgeries after eating sock is reunited with Wallington owner
The Doberman pinscher ingested the object on Valentine’s Day in February, and his condition worsened after the first procedure.
Dexter’s survival chances began to plummet but he later pulled through as his owner Lisa Jennings spoke of the two-hour tax ride of ‘pure hell’.
You can read it here.
9. Sutton mum named best babysitter in south east England
A little nice story.
Stacy Taperell took on and won against hundreds of other hopefuls to the coveted title in February this year.
The mum-of-three was named babysitter of the year following a public vote.
Read about it here.
10. Beloved family cat feared dead returns to family
It was long thought this black-and-white moggie named Sid had been lost forever.
But thanks to Wallington Animal Rescue, Sid returned home after a remarkable journey.
Read more about it here.
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