Richard Franz holding one of the many Christmas cards he received this year.

NEW ULM — A local man has received over 150 Christmas Cards this season thanks to the willingness of others to spread holiday cheer.

Richard Franz is 82 years old and is a big fan of Christmas and loves to receive holiday cards. His sister, Rosie Geer, is his caregiver and recently she reached out to the people on New Ulm Facebook group The Grace Exchange asking people to send her brother cards.

Geer explained her brother has developmental disabilities and a form of hemophilia first discovered in 1952. This version of hemophilia was named after the first patient with it, whose last name was “Christmas.” That means her brother literally has the Christmas disease.

Geer said that her brother checks the mailbox every day and is disappointed when there are no cards. People do send emails, but computer greetings are not real to him. He looks for the paper cards.

“I expected five or six cards, but I believe we’re up to 150 cards right now,” Geer said.

The cards have brought a great deal of joy to Richard.

“He loves it,” Geer said. “He’s happy every day.”

One of the surprising parts of the cards is where they came from. Geer said she posted the request for cards locally, but it was reposted elsewhere and now her brother is receiving Christmas cards from all over the country.

“We’re getting cards from places I had to look upon the map,” she said.

Geer said she was touched by all those who sent cards.

“It brings a tear to my eye that people who don’t know my brother would try to bring him so much joy,” she said.

Geer and Franz hope to reciprocate the generosity by sending out cards on the next holiday.