Fareham business owner creates heartwarming Hedgehug pompom gifts to spread love while raising hundreds for NHS

In March 2020, Alex Davison from Fareham decided to get creative and make her mum 60 pompom pigs for her 60th birthday, with a tag attached to each saying why she loved her.

Less than a year later, this gift which led to a small business idea has spiralled into a full-time job delivering special presents to customers as far away as the USA.

Alex said: ‘Lockdown has been such a difficult time for so many but making Hedgehugs and reading people’s messages has been so uplifting.

‘I’ve lost count of the number of times a message has made me tearful, and I’m reminded daily of the love and kindness that exists in the world.’

Alex’s job as a strength and wellness coach for technical sports, including Olympic weightlifting, changed dramatically during the first lockdown which meant she had more time on her hands.

Not one to sit still, and after seeing the great reaction and joy her pom pom pigs brought to her mum, Alex experimented with different animal shapes and Hedgehugs was born.

Going from strength to strength, what was a cottage business to do in her spare time turned into a full-time job in November.

Alex drafted in her mum and partner to help make the Hedgehugs, with orders coming in for 150 at a time and requests for customised items such as Christmas Hugs, Baby Shower Hugs, Valentines Hugs, Superhero Hugs and even Nurse Hugs.

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Alex said: ‘We’ve been overwhelmed by the love for our hugs and have sent them as far as Pennsylvania, USA, which is crazy when I think about it!’

The entrepreneur’s intention was to give something back to the NHS, with the family having received ‘outstanding care’ from Queen Alexandra and St. Mary’s Hospitals in the past.

From the money raised, 80 per cent has gone to the NHS with other donations going to The British Hedgehog Preservation Society and fundraising for a terminally ill teenager.

Alex, who has been delivering Hedgehugs on her bike with her niece Caitlin, said: ‘I never could have imagined we’d have raised so much for charity.’

To get involved or learn more, visit haveahedgehug.com or contact via Facebook or Instagram @haveahedgehug

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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