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After standing for over a millennium, a Saxon church in the English village of Daglingworth is finally getting its first toilet.

Holy Rood Church, which dates back to the 11th century and features rare Saxon carvings and a 15th-century tower, has received a £35,000 grant from the National Churches Trust and a further £5,000 from the Headley Foundation to install an accessible toilet and kitchen servery. The new facilities will be built into the base of the church’s bell tower and north aisle.

The move comes after dwindling attendance raised concerns about the church’s accessibility — especially for older parishioners, families with young children, and those with mobility issues. “The lack of a toilet had made the church inaccessible for many people and had deterred attendance,” the church said.

With modern plumbing finally on the way, church leaders hope to breathe new life into the historic building by making it more welcoming for community events, including plans for a mother and toddler group and safe refreshment services after Sunday worship.

Steve Brady, churchwarden at Holy Rood, called the improvements a “community-wide effort” to keep the church “at the very centre of village life.”

“These two incredibly generous grants ensure that we can make vital changes, and necessary restoration works to the church,” he said. “Creating and preserving the church as a space for all members of the parish to benefit from and enjoy — from the youngest to the oldest — is at the centre of our mission and work here.”

The upgrades mark a new chapter for a building that has already withstood centuries of history, including plagues, wars, and the Reformation.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said the group was “delighted” to support the effort. “Not only will this protect this important heritage, but it will help to keep the church building open and serving local people.”

Construction of the new facilities is expected to begin soon, bringing Holy Rood Church into the modern age — and, at long last, giving its congregation some much-needed relief.

Lack of Loo No More: This Historic Church Installed Their First Toilet After 1,000 Years

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Every December for the past 21 years, thousands of military families across the United States have received a simple but powerful gift: a fresh Christmas tree delivered right to their base.

It’s all thanks to a nonprofit initiative called Trees for Troops, run by the Christmas Spirit Foundation. Since launching in 2005, the program has delivered more than 326,000 free Christmas trees to active-duty service members and their families.

“That first year, we were able to do 4,300 trees to five different bases,” executive director Rick Dungey told Fox Weather. “I remember at the time, people thought it was just a crazy idea that wouldn’t catch on, but it did. And now we’re doing our 21st consecutive year.”

What started as a modest idea has become a massive, coordinated effort involving over 340 farms in 28 states. In 2025 alone, Dungey estimates the group will donate more than 19,000 trees to 94 bases across the country — all within a tight 10-day window.

“Those [trees] have to be gathered together in 56 locations — farms and garden centers — and FedEx picks them up,” Dungey explained.

FedEx has supported the project from day one. “For 21 years, FedEx Freight has been honored to carry more than just cargo alongside the Christmas Spirit Foundation — we carry a piece of home to the doorsteps of our nation’s military families,” spokesperson Shannon Davis told Military.com.

The effort is personal and deeply local. At every step, community members help make the experience special — from harvesting the trees to hand-writing cards and crafting homemade ornaments. At New York’s Ellms Family Farm, which has supported the program since its beginning, local National Guard members helped load trees this year.

“Most of them say the same thing, how this reminded them of home and family,” said farm owner Garth Ellms. “To help our troops enjoy that moment or memory is why we continue to do this.”

And at Richardson Farms in Illinois, Wendy Richardson says the program’s impact never gets old. “Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ or starts the holidays more than a real tree,” she said. “The smell, the memories of getting a tree — whether it’s at a tree farm or when it’s delivered to the base — it’s a very warm feeling for us to see people appreciating that tree.”

The trees are especially meaningful this year, as many military families continue to feel the pinch from rising living costs. According to the Military Family Advisory Network, one in four active-duty military families in the U.S. faces food insecurity — a far higher rate than the national average.

For many families, removing the cost of a Christmas tree from their budget means being able to celebrate the holidays more fully.

And while the trees themselves are temporary, the memories — and the message — last a lot longer.

Fedex Delivers 325K Free Christmas Trees To Military Families In Annual 'Trees For Troops' Program

Khaleej Times - Culture

Cora Oakley was born with no immune system. A simple infection, even the common cold, could have ended her life. Diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID — sometimes called “bubble boy disease” — Cora was among roughly 100 babies in the U.S. each year born with this rare and often fatal genetic condition.

Without treatment, most infants with SCID don’t survive past their first birthday. Cora had ADA-SCID, one of the few subtypes for which a promising new gene therapy was being tested. Her mother, Chelsea Ferrier, calls her a “miracle” child — her firstborn after years of miscarriages. When a clinical trial opened in 2017, Cora got the last spot.

“I would have sold my organs to get into that trial,” Ferrier said.

A Quiet Revolution in Treatment

Until recently, the only real option for children with SCID was a bone-marrow transplant — a complex procedure that often requires a perfectly matched sibling donor. For those without a match, the risks are far greater: chemotherapy, immunosuppression, and complications like graft-versus-host disease.

“You’re suppressing their immunity when you want their immune system to grow,” said Dr. Donald Kohn, a pediatric immunologist at UCLA Health and lead author of a recent gene therapy study.

Gene therapy offers a different path. Doctors collect a child’s own stem cells, correct the faulty gene using a harmless version of HIV as a delivery tool, and then reintroduce the repaired cells. Because the cells are the child’s own, there’s no risk of rejection and only a minimal dose of chemotherapy is needed.

In a study of 62 babies with ADA-SCID, every single one is still alive nearly eight years later. About 95% — including Cora — had fully restored immune systems.

“This was a fairy tale 20 years ago,” said Dr. Frank Staal, a stem cell researcher in the Netherlands. “Now it’s a reality.”

Two Daughters, Two Very Different Journeys

Hailey Barlow, from Utah, knows that reality firsthand. Her eldest daughter, Jaylee, received a traditional bone-marrow transplant in 2010 and spent nearly a year in the hospital battling complications. Her younger daughter, Hazel, received gene therapy in 2023 and was home in just over a month.

“You really couldn’t even tell Hazel had been sick,” Barlow said. “The difference between the two treatments was honestly mind-boggling.”

Still, even with gene therapy, life with SCID is a constant exercise in caution. Families often live in isolation for months to avoid germs while their child’s immune system recovers.

“Parents of SCID patients are permanently anxious,” Kohn said. “One infection can take their child from them.”

Nicole Haggard, whose family has lost multiple children to SCID, said her son Dezar’s successful gene therapy changed everything — but didn’t erase the fear. Visitors had to change clothes before entering the house. Playgrounds were off-limits. Even now, a simple fever brings panic.

“Normal people say, ‘My kid’s sick,’” she said. “We’re always anticipating it to be something bigger.”

Hope With Caveats

Gene therapy has already changed lives, but it still faces major hurdles. Unlike bone-marrow transplants, which are widely available, gene therapy is only accessible through clinical trials — expensive, complex, and often limited to certain states or hospitals.

And while early results are overwhelmingly positive, researchers can’t yet say how the repaired immune systems will hold up decades from now.

“There’s no pharmaceutical company behind it yet,” said Dr. Susan Prockop, a pediatric oncologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. “These trials won’t last forever.”

Still, for families like the Oakleys, the impact is undeniable. Cora is now a healthy, energetic 8-year-old who loves animals and wants to help others. She volunteers with kittens and insists on stopping to meet every dog she sees.

“I don’t ever want to think about what it would’ve meant,” her mother said, “if Cora didn’t have this opportunity.”

A Cold Could Have Killed Her — Until Gene Therapy Rewrote the Rules

BBC News

For Alison Smith, running used to mean sticking to the same quiet, familiar routes, relying more on her hearing than her limited peripheral vision to stay safe. But all that changed when she joined the Shifnal Striders.

“It’s been a game changer,” said the Shropshire runner, who is partially sighted. “I used to run on my own, but they would be the same boring, tedious routes. The group has allowed me to run new routes and further distances safely. I feel so empowered.”

The Shifnal Striders formed in April as a way to bring runners in the small town of Shifnal together. Smith joined that same month and quickly found herself not just running farther, but enjoying it more.

“When I was running on my own, I was always conscious about the routes — what kind of roads would I have to cross, is it busy with pedestrians?” she said. “Now I’m always crossing with someone, and it’s fantastic.”

The group meets twice a week, on Saturdays and Wednesdays, drawing an average of 20 runners. Most runs are 5km loops around town, and while there’s a social and casual vibe, the support it provides runs deeper — especially for runners like Smith.

“With safety and the different routes comes confidence and happiness,” she said. “I’m not bothered about times. I just do it for the run — and for the great chats with great friends along the way.”

Beyond the roads and trails, the club has become a community. The group recently gathered for a Christmas celebration, and members keep in touch via a group chat that’s as much about emotional support as it is about running plans.

“If someone’s feeling down in the dumps or just needs a chat — or maybe a glass of wine — we’re all here to support each other,” Smith said.

Alex Dent, one of the club’s earliest members, said the group thrives on being social and supportive. “We’re quite social, especially on Wednesdays when we congregate in the King’s Yard for a cheese board and a drink,” he said.

Other members say running in a group has changed the way they approach the sport — and how they feel while doing it.

“It’s great, especially in winter,” Dent added. “We’re safer, more visible, and it’s great to meet like-minded people.”

Jo Hughes, another founding member, said the group has been especially important as a woman running at night. “I wouldn’t be running at this time of night by myself,” she said. “And I wouldn’t be running the same routes — I’d always have to change them up. When I’m with the group, I don’t even think about it.”

For Smith, there’s still one hurdle she hasn’t yet crossed: running at night. “I just think I don’t have enough vision to run independently and I wouldn’t put the pressure on another runner to be my eyes,” she said.

But she hasn’t ruled it out. With the right support, perhaps even a guide runner, it’s something she might consider in the future.

For now, she’s focused on enjoying the distance, the variety — and the people who’ve helped her fall in love with running again.

‘I Feel So Empowered’: How a Running Club Changed the Game for a Partially Sighted Runner

People

The northern lights may return for another round of sky shows this weekend, thanks to a burst of solar activity that could reach Earth as early as Friday night.

A pair of moderate solar flares erupted from the sun on Friday morning, Dec. 12, triggering coronal mass ejections — massive clouds of charged particles that can spark vivid auroras when they collide with Earth’s magnetic field. Now, forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center say conditions could align for another chance to see the aurora borealis across parts of the northern U.S.

Friday night offers the best window for viewing, with geomagnetic activity expected to peak between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. NOAA projects the Kp index, which measures geomagnetic storms, will hit around 4 — strong enough for auroras to be visible in northern-tier states if skies are clear.

That means people in parts of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Wyoming, and Maine might get a glimpse. The farther north and the darker your location, the better your chances.

“Activity is expected to reduce as the weekend progresses,” NOAA said, noting a drop in the Kp index to 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. That means the farther into the weekend, the slimmer the odds for a strong light show.

The upcoming auroras follow a surprise G1-class geomagnetic storm Thursday night that briefly lit up skies in some areas. Friday’s solar flares — one classified as M2.0 and another as M1.1 — were more powerful, and scientists are still tracking whether the resulting particle clouds will make a direct hit.

For now, the advice is simple: find a dark spot, avoid light pollution, and look up. Let your eyes adjust for at least 30 minutes, and be patient — auroras can shift quickly and unpredictably.

Want to snap a photo? Most smartphones can capture auroras using Night Mode or Pro Mode. Turn off the flash, steady your hand (or use a tripod), and shoot toward the northern sky. If you're using a DSLR, try a wide-angle lens and a longer exposure to pick up more color and movement.

Whether or not the lights appear, one thing is certain: space weather season is heating up. And with solar activity expected to peak in 2025, there may be plenty more chances to catch nature’s light show.

A Solar Stormis Sparking a Spectacular Northern Lights Show Across U.S. This Weekend

For the first time in its 150-year history, Jersey Heritage is conducting a major clean-up of its museum collections — an effort to make space, remove damaged items, and focus on preserving the island’s most meaningful cultural stories.

The charity, which manages Jersey’s heritage sites and artifacts, says the project will involve carefully deaccessioning items that are either duplicates or too damaged to repair. The collections, originally started in 1873 by the Société Jersiaise, now hold more than 300,000 items — including, somewhat surprisingly, 199 chairs and 10 bathtubs.

Helena Kergozou, senior registrar at Jersey Heritage, said the process is being handled with caution and collaboration. “We are being extremely careful and following a strict set of checks and balances before making any final decisions about what stays and what goes,” she said.

That process includes involving conservation specialists and consulting with partners like the Société Jersiaise, who own some of the collection items.

“The pieces that we are deaccessioning are being offered to other heritage organisations or charities to use, or they will be recycled,” Kergozou explained. “Only as a last resort will a piece be scrapped altogether — for example, a wooden chair riddled with woodworm.”

The goal, she said, is to free up space for future acquisitions and to better protect the items that truly tell the story of Jersey’s heritage. “It’s vital to create room for future pieces and to preserve the island’s incredible story,” she added.

Stuart Fell, president of the Société Jersiaise, said the review is long overdue. “Many of the items have been accumulated by the Société since the late 19th century. Some of these are now in very poor condition or have no significant value as museum pieces.”

“It makes good sense that such objects should be withdrawn from the collections and disposed of in an appropriate manner,” he said.

The clean-out marks a major shift in how the island’s cultural institutions manage heritage — aiming not just to preserve the past, but to make space for the future.

A Historic Museum Begins Its First Major Clear-Out in 150 Years

Thirty-five critically endangered sea turtles are getting a second chance at life after being rescued from dangerously cold waters and transported across the country for care.

In November, a sharp drop in ocean temperatures in New England left dozens of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles cold-stunned — a condition that renders the reptiles lethargic and immobile. The turtles, unable to swim or dive, floated to the surface and were pushed ashore by waves and wind.

Kemp’s ridleys are the world’s most endangered sea turtle species. When they’re exposed to water temperatures below 10°C, they lose their ability to regulate body heat and often suffer from dehydration, pneumonia, and other complications.

The 35 turtles were first stabilized at the New England Aquarium’s rescue facility. Once strong enough to travel, they were flown by charter to the Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans, thanks to support from Greater Good Charities.

“Some of these turtles arrived in rough shape; they will need more extensive rehabilitation than others,” said Gabriella Harlamert, the aquarium’s stranding and rehab coordinator. “We are monitoring each of them constantly and are hopeful all 35 of these turtles will heal and return to the Gulf in the spring.”

The goal is to release the turtles back into the wild in spring 2026, once Gulf waters warm to a safe level.

Each turtle at the aquarium has been named after a rock or mineral — including one dubbed “Opalite,” a nod to Taylor Swift’s favorite gemstone. To keep things festive, the rescue team also created “naughty” and “nice” lists for the season. Jade made the nice list this week after beginning to eat on their own following two weeks of refusing food. Mica, on the other hand, landed on the naughty list for still refusing to eat and resisting help from caregivers.

Despite the light-hearted touches, the work is serious. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are among the rarest sea turtles on Earth, and even a single animal's survival matters. The Audubon Aquarium Rescue is the only facility in Louisiana authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rehabilitate sea turtles. The team provides round-the-clock care and tracks each turtle’s progress in hopes of eventually reintroducing them to their home waters.

New England Aquarium Saves 35 Endangered Turtles After Cold-Stunning Event

After more than five decades of harmony, the voices of the Hartlepool Youth Choir will come together one last time.

The award-winning choir, founded in 1969 by music teacher and conductor Chris Simmons, is reuniting for a final Christmas concert in support of local charities. Former members from the 1970s are travelling from across the country to rehearse and perform at St George’s United Reformed Church on 14 December.

Now 81, Simmons said the decision to hold one final performance comes as the demands of organising concerts have become too much. “It is a poignant moment,” he said. “I was supposed to be stopping doing this last year.”

That decision was accelerated after Simmons took a heavy fall on the way to a rehearsal last year and spent two weeks in hospital. Fully recovered now, he’s ready to take the stage one last time — carefully.

“I told people I would have another go this year and try not to trip,” he joked. “The choir will practice hard and hopefully give a good showing.”

The concert will raise funds for Alice House Hospice and the Hartlepool Food Bank. Tickets are £5 and will be available at the door.

Founded to give young singers a chance to travel and perform, the choir became a staple of Hartlepool’s musical life. Under Simmons' leadership, it won the International Choral Competition in the former Yugoslavia, the European Youth Choral Competition in Belgium, and toured countries including Canada, the USA, and throughout Europe.

In recognition of his decades of musical service, Simmons was appointed MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list in June.

One former member, Beezy Marsh, now 57, remembers the choir as a formative part of her youth.

“We were immersed in this amazing world of music,” she said. “Chris believed in us. I remember being just 12 or 13 and singing in Venice after we competed against the Russian State Choir.”

Although the final concert will mark the official end of the Hartlepool Youth Choir’s long run, Marsh and others hope the connections built through music won’t fade.

“It’s sad bringing the chapter to a close,” she said, “but I hope we’ll still find a way to sing together.”

This Youth Choir Just Reunited for One Final Charity Concert — Here's Why

Bertie the Badger is back — a little worse for wear, but home safe.

The much-loved mascot of the Badger Bar in Rydal, Lake District, vanished earlier this week during a staff Christmas night out in nearby Ambleside. Staff had brought the taxidermy badger along for festivities at the White Lion Hotel on Monday, but at some point during the night, Bertie disappeared.

The pub reported him missing, and Cumbria Police issued an appeal. Then the story took off, gaining attention not just across the UK but as far away as the United States.

By Friday, the mystery had ended — with a cheerful twist.

“Bertie has just staggered back through the front door!” the Badger Bar posted on Facebook. “He seems to have had a merry time, his hat and tinsel have fallen off, and he's not telling what he's been up to. But he's been well looked after and we're grateful for that.”

Paul Knowles, owner of the Badger Bar, previously said Bertie had “pride of place” on a shelf near the bar and had become a firm favourite among customers, who often posed for photos with him. The badger’s exact origins are unclear, but Knowles believes he’s been part of the pub for decades.

“He's an integral part of the building and the history,” he said.

The Badger Bar got its name about 50 years ago, after a sett was discovered in the woods behind the building. Staff would leave out food and regularly spot the animals.

As for Bertie’s festive misadventure, he’s keeping his secrets — but his return has been warmly welcomed by staff and locals alike.

Beloved Badger Mascot Returns Home After Wild Night Out

When Jane White first arrived in Menorca, she never imagined she’d spend her days feeding donkeys — let alone fall in love with them.

“I was originally petrified of donkeys,” Jane admits. But now, caring for them has become her life.

Jane, 54, and her husband Dennis, 59, left Leicester six years ago after Dennis was made redundant from a design firm. Looking for a fresh start, they moved to the Spanish island, hoping to build a slower, more fulfilling life.

What they didn’t expect was to end up helping run a donkey sanctuary.

Shortly after settling into their new home in 2020 — and just days before Spain’s COVID lockdown began — the couple discovered Menorca Donkey Rescue, a self-funded sanctuary nearby. Once restrictions lifted, they visited the sanctuary and found the small team of volunteers overwhelmed.

“We realised we really, really loved the animals and the interactions with the people,” said Dennis. Seeing how much help was needed, they offered to pitch in and promote the charity. Before long, they were volunteering every summer.

Now, the couple helps Gundi Grass, the woman who founded the sanctuary, care for 17 donkeys. That includes feeding, cleaning, and making sure each donkey is healthy and safe while Gundi works full-time.

Dennis says it gave them structure and purpose. “When we moved over, we needed something to do so we could enjoy the days off. We have also met people from all over, and you see the good work the volunteers do, which inspires you to carry on.”

For Jane, the transformation was personal. Having grown up with dogs and other domestic animals, donkeys were outside her comfort zone. But everything changed once she got to know them.

“All of a sudden, you’re having to feed these big animals and you fall in love with them,” she said. “They’ve all got their own little personalities.”

Currently, the land the sanctuary sits on is owned by three private individuals who allow it to be used for free. But the land is now up for sale — and Jane and Dennis are determined to buy it themselves to keep the sanctuary going.

They’ve set up a GoFundMe page to raise the money needed and plan to devote even more time to the project. At the moment, it’s just Jane, Dennis, and Gundi running the facility.

“We’ve been drawn in,” said Dennis. “It becomes your life.”

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