Inspiring birthday party raises gifts for Calgary children

A birthday tradition for one Calgary boy continued Sunday, despite the nasty weather.

For the past six years, George Boyce, who turned 14 on Sunday, has been hosting a skating birthday party at Olympic Plaza where he doesn’t accept any gifts for himself.

Instead, Boyce has been collecting gifts for kids staying at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“I heard the song “Do they know it’s Christmas” and I was just touched by the song at eight-years-old and I decided to start donating,” Boyce said.

READ MORE: 12 year old birthday boy has party to donate presents

Last year, 500 gifts were donated. The first year George started doing the special charity event, he managed to collect 52 gifts, and it kept ballooning the older he got. The goal this year was 520.

George says a lot of people who have heard about his annual birthday charity event are surprised he keeps doing it.

Boyce’s parents are thrilled with their son’s generosity and he says he has no plans to go back to a traditional birthday party.

“I just like to keep going, it just brings me joy. I don’t get to see the children but I just imagine them waking up to having something there, and knowing someone cares.”