At a time when many charities are experiencing hardship, with events and fundraising initiatives cancelled, an online auction for a unique NHS themed copper bench has helped raise £1,500 for children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes.
The winning ‘bench-bid’ came from ethical family business Oakland International. Co-Founder, Sallie Attwell, commented: “As a result of the national crisis, Molly Olly’s Wishes has seen a significant drop in fundraising and events able to take place, but children are still becoming sick and they, and their families, still need our help.”
Molly Olly’s Wishes is a charity set up by parents Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw following the death of their 8-year old daughter Molly who sadly died in 2011.
Added Sallie: “We were thrilled to win the online auction and to know that we have helped raise much needed funds for such a worthwhile charity as Molly Olly’s Wishes is fantastic!”
The bench, which bears the topical message: ‘2020 Love NHS’ was crafted by plumbing firm Rudkin & Herbert in Leicester and was bought for £2,000 by Simon and Lorraine Cave, from Solihull, who then donated the proceeds to Leicester’s Loros Hospice and Cancer Research before regifting the bench to Molly Olly’s Wishes.
Ian Herbert, a director at Rudkin & Herbert plumbers merchants, commented: “I have been blown away with the whole story of the bench from the original very kind charity donation of £2,000 from Simon and Lorraine Cave, leading up to the final auction raising another £1,500. I really hope that all the PR that has been generated will help raise more awareness and future donations for the three very worthy charities involved, Loros, Cancer Research and Molly Ollys Wishes.
“I can honestly say I never expected anything like this to happen and we will continue to support the charities as much as we can and if there is anything we can do in the future please contact us.”
Molly Olly’s Wishes supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses, granting individual wish requests ranging from providing specialist equipment to help with day to day living, to alternative therapy treatment, to toys or electronic devices to help keep children entertained whilst undergoing or recovering from treatment, or to days out when conditions allow. The charity has also developed a therapeutic toy lion, Olly The Brave, and written accompanying books, to help support a child’s emotional well-being through their treatment journey, which are donated to hospitals and individuals across the U.K. The Charity also fund the only Consultant Paediatrician in Palliative Medicine.
Molly Olly’s Wishes Co-founder and Trustee, Rachel Ollerenshaw, commented: “A big thank you to Simon and Lorraine Cave who very generously donated the bench to Molly Olly’s, to Ian Herbert and his team for making it and to the team at Oakland for their winning bid.
“Oakland have been extremely supportive to the Charity in many ways. They have really taken the time to listen and understand the importance of our work. These are extraordinary times for us all and we have had to look at alternative fundraising ideas to generate income to ensure that we can continue to offer support to the families requesting our help. Thank you to them all for helping to make a difference.”
You can find out more about Molly Olly’s Wishes by visiting visit: https://www.mollyolly.co.uk/