Rachel Ollerenshaw from Hatton in Warwick returned to update Warwick Rotary Club about her charity “Molly Olly’s Wishes”. Since her first visit in 2015 she has achieved a huge amount helping children and families deal with serious illness.
Molly’s mother started the charity “Molly Olly’s Wishes” after her daughter lost her 5 year battle with cancer in 2011. Despite her own problems Molly reached out to the other children in hospital with ideas to help them feel better during their stay and now Rachel fundraises to provide emotional and financial help to other children and families facing a terminal or life threatening illness.
In 2019 some 352 “Wishes” were provided to children and their families, from a family day out, to Lego, an IPad; a peapod chair, or a keyboard, to help during long sessions of chemotherapy. These are mostly provided in the West Midlands so they can be promptly sourced when the need arises.
Her initial book “Olly the Brave” and cuddly toy was made available to children in hospitals across the country to help them understand their diagnosis, two more now explain, in children’s terms, chemotherapy and getting better. Another 3 books are being planned for siblings and deal with being left behind.
Molly Olly’s has worked with Birmingham Children’s Hospital to source funding for a palliative care paediatrician working in the community which enables children to be treated at home. A new centre called Magnolia House has been built at BCH to give support to families during treatment. In Warwick a local company has provided a brightly coloured van with their logo, and they will soon be moving into an office in central Warwick from where their volunteers can work.
There was many a damp eye amongst club members after Rachel’s presentation. Jon Wassall gave the vote of thanks remarking on the thoughtfulness and care shown by young Molly and thanked Rachel for her support to other families facing the unthinkable loss of a child. President David Brain presented Rachel with a cheque towards her work.
Further information can be found on the website www.mollyolly.co.uk
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