Autistic boy receives thousands of birthday cards

Laurent Bordet, the father of autistic boy Kevin, wrote on Facebook that “when you’re autistic, you don’t have much contact [with people] or many friends”, and continued, “I would like to ask you to send a card or a drawing for [Kevin’s] birthday on August 17” as “he would be so happy that someone is thinking of him for his 11th year”.

He then listed the address in Grenoble, added some photos of Kevin with his family, and invited others to share the post.

The post has now been shared over 4 400 times and attracted over 1 200 comments, nearly all of which wish the boy a happy birthday. Some sent images and GIFs (moving images), while others shared stories of their own children’s birthdays and experiences of autism.

Others have promised to send cards and gifts, which will join the boxes of letters and parcels that have already arrived.

According to Laurent, speaking to French newspaper France Info, Kevin never celebrates his birthday with friends or classmates. An invitation to a party for his son this year received no positive responses, Laurent said.

There is now a fundraising page set up in support of Kevin, while France Info wrote that “a little bird” told them that the boy especially enjoys UEFA Olympique de Marseille football, trains, the American movie Cars, and the Marvel comic books, should anyone else wish to send gifts.