Molly Ollys was established in 2011 by Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw, from Warwick, following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

The charity works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing wishes, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

The therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. This forms part of an Olly The Brave pack that are handed out to hospitals or health centres, along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.

Part of more than £5m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first consultant in paediatric palliative medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and pay for the training of a further two consultants.

The charity works alongside the NHS to support projects within the hospitals and the community. One key project was the creation and refurbishment of Magnolia House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This is a safe and non-clinical space where medical teams and families can have important discussions.

Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “We are professional and personal and never forget that those we help are going through extremely challenging times. We work with every child and family individually to ensure that the support we provide, whether it be a wish or giving Olly The Brave and his story books, is appropriate to their situation. Our own experience helps us empathise and we understand that those we help are going through extremely challenging times. We are always striving to help as many as possible, and to find new ways that we can make the dark days a little brighter for these children and their families.”

Current data suggests that 12 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every day, and that 1,900 children under the age of 14 in the UK are diagnosed each year. More children are diagnosed with a range of other, often rare, conditions and illnesses that are also life-threatening.

Molly Ollys Club

For just £5 per month, members of Molly Ollys Club are entered into a monthly prize draw, held on the 28th of the month, where one lucky ticket holder will win a cash prize and the remainder of the funds will be used to help provide wishes and therapeutic toys to the children and families that need the charity’s help.

Shop For Molly Ollys

Buy some carefully chosen items from Molly Ollys and help the charity At the same time. Visit www.mollyolly.co.uk/shop/.

To become a member fill in the Club membership Form here and send to sue@mollyolly.co.uk.

Molly Ollys need the support of companies and individuals to enable them to help more children. For other ideas how you can help or fundraise or to learn more about the charity, contact Rachel on 07747 854914. Or visit: visit www.mollyolly.co.uk