Author: Lorraine

A New Hospital. The Same Commitment.

Last week was very special for Milly’s Smiles as our very first delivery of Milly Bags arrived on the Rainbow Ward at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.

From today, children and young people diagnosed with cancer from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and across Mid, West and South Wales, will receive a Milly Bag during their first oncology admission.

Supporting a new hospital is never a decision we take lightly.

We only commit to a new hospital when we know we have the funding in place to supply Milly Bags for a minimum of two years. For Rainbow Ward, that represents a commitment of approximately £22,400, based on around 80 children being diagnosed with cancer each year.

It is a significant commitment, but one we are able to make because of the incredible generosity of our supporters. Every donation, every fundraising challenge, every grant, every corporate partnership and every volunteer has played a part in making this possible.

However, this isn’t about reaching our eighth hospital.

It’s about supporting another 80 children and their families every single year.

Whilst we are incredibly proud to be extending our support to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, this is not a milestone we celebrate. Childhood cancer will never be something to celebrate.

Instead, we feel incredibly privileged.

Privileged that, at one of the darkest moments imaginable, we can provide a little comfort, practical support and remind families that they are not alone.

From this week, a nurse on Rainbow Ward will hand a Milly Bag to a family who has probably never heard of Milly’s Smiles. They won’t know about the years of fundraising, the grant applications, the volunteers who carefully packed every bag, or the supporters whose kindness made it all possible.

What they will know is that, in one of the hardest moments of their lives, someone they have never met cares deeply about what they are going through.

That is why Milly’s Smiles exists.

To every single person who has donated, fundraised, volunteered, shared our story, organised an event, sponsored us, or simply believed in what we do…

Thank you. Diolch.

Because of you, another 80 children and their families every year will receive comfort, kindness and practical support when they need it most.

A few weeks ago we held our very first SOULS Coffee, Cake & Conversation morning, and it was everything we’d hoped it would be.

Seven lovely people joined us for coffee, cake and a chat. It was a warm, welcoming space where bereaved mums, dads and grandparents could simply spend time with people who understand.

The conversation flowed so naturally, and it was lovely to see people chatting, laughing, listening and supporting one another. For a couple of hours, nobody had to explain why they felt the way they did.

A huge thank you to Emily at Honey Bee Bakery for kindly donating the most amazing cakes and brownies, they were absolutely delicious and very much enjoyed by everyone!

Our next SOULS Coffee, Cake & Conversation morning takes place on Friday 7th August 10am-12 noon, and we’d love to welcome you.

Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, you’ll always receive a warm welcome.

If you’re feeling a little nervous about coming on your own, please bring someone with you. Sometimes having a familiar face beside you makes walking through the door that little bit easier.

You’ll be greeted with a friendly face, a cup of coffee, a slice of cake and people who simply get it.

For more information please contact Lorraine on 07555 541987.

This month our SOULS group enjoyed a lovely afternoon together in Sabden.

Maggie led us on a gentle walk around the village, giving everyone the chance to chat, reflect, or simply enjoy the fresh air and sunshine at their own pace. We then finished at The Pendle Witch where we were treated to tea, coffee and a delicious selection of homemade cakes, all kindly baked by Maggie.

Sometimes it isn’t about having the answers. It’s simply about spending time with people who understand, without explanation, because they are walking the same path.

Thank you so much to Maggie for organising such a thoughtful afternoon, for sharing your beautiful village with us, and for the kindness and care you put into making everyone feel so welcome.

For anyone following our SOULS group from afar and wondering whether it might be for you, we’d also love to let you know that from Friday 3rd July we’ll be launching our new Coffee, Cake & Conversation mornings.

Held on the first Friday of each month, these informal gatherings are simply a chance to come together over a brew, a slice of cake and conversation with others who truly understand.

Whether you feel ready to join us for a walk, or would prefer to start with a coffee and a chat, you will always receive a warm welcome.

Yesterday was Graeme’s first day back after a well-earned holiday, and before he had even had chance to sit down, he was off on the road delivering Milly Bags to Manchester!

On his return, there was no rest, as his next task was to prepare a pallet of 15 Milly Bags for Ward E39 at Nottingham, which were collected today.

We are incredibly fortunate to be gifted our pallets by one of the businesses on our industrial park. This helps us keep costs down and ensures more funds go directly into supporting families.

Every pallet is carefully and meticulously packed by Graeme, making sure each bag is secure and safe for transport. Every Milly Bag is also sealed with its own numbered security tag, ensuring it arrives exactly as intended.

Today’s delivery marks our 11th delivery to Nottingham since we began supporting the hospital in 2023 and takes the total number of Milly Bags delivered there to an incredible 195.

We are so very proud that our a small charity in Great Harwood is making a difference, in Milly’s memory, to so many families across the country, going through what is possibly one of the worst times of their lives.

Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support Milly’s Smiles.

Today we delivered a further 20 Milly Bags to Ward 86 at Manchester Children’s Hospital, following a late night request from the ward, after they realised they had only one bag left!

Today’s delivery was particularly special as it was the very first hospital delivery in our new van.

It was lovely to see the van loaded up with our Milly Bags for the first time, we are still feeling very blessed and lucky to have received the donation that allowed us to buy this van.

Delivering our Milly Bags is something that we never celebrate. They are the bags that no family ever wants to receive.

We wish there was no need for Milly Bags.

We wish that children didn’t get cancer.

But sadly they do.

And for as long as children continue to be diagnosed with cancer, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that families receive a Milly Bag when they need it most.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support, fundraise and donate to us, every penny really does help us to continue making a difference every single day.

#MillysSmiles #ManchesterChildrensHospital #ChildhoodCancer #PostcodeLotteryPeople

After losing Milly, I felt like nobody in the world truly understood the pain I was carrying or the sheer enormity of no longer having my youngest daughter with me.

People wanted to help and were very kind, but I was often told that my pain was understood because they had lost a beloved pet or an elderly relative. Whilst every loss is painful and significant, losing a child is different. It goes against the natural order of life. As parents, we expect to leave our children one day, not for them to leave us.

The only support I found truly comforting was connecting with other bereaved parents. I didn’t have to explain my feelings, justify my grief, or pretend I was okay.

They simply understood – and that understanding was one of the reasons SOULS was created.

Over the years, our SOULS bereavement support group has become a source of friendship, support, laughter, tears and understanding for many bereaved families.

One thing we have learned is that sometimes people don’t need a support group or an organised activity. Sometimes they just need a brew, a piece of cake, and someone who understands what it feels like to carry grief.

So we are very excited to introduce SOULS – Coffee, Cake & Conversation as an addition to our existing SOULS groups.

Starting Friday 3rd July

10am – 12 noon

Milly’s Smiles – Unit 4, Alan Ramsbottom Way, Great Harwood.

hello@millyssmiles.org for more information.

The group which is totally free of charge, will then meet on the first Friday of every month.

There is no agenda, no pressure and no expectation. You don’t need to talk if you don’t want to. You don’t need to explain yourself. You can simply come along, enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake, and spend time with people who understand that grief doesn’t have a timetable.

SOULS – Coffee, Cake & Conversation is open to anyone affected by the loss of a child, grandchild, brother or sister, regardless of their age when they died or how long ago your loss occurred.

Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, you will receive a warm welcome.

Because nobody should have to face grief alone.

For the last two years we have been lucky enough to be supported by four incredible people, Natalie, her husband Simon, and their friends Tom and Martin.

The team have organised a charity football match for the last three years in memory of a very special young girl, Olivia, who sadly passed away in 2021.

This year’s Olivia’s Charity Match was another fantastic day, bringing together family, friends and the local community in Olivia’s memory. From the football itself to the stalls, entertainment and food, it was clear just how much hard work had gone into making the event such a success.

The final total raised for Milly’s Smiles was an incredible £12,303.85.

To say we were overwhelmed would be an understatement. It is a phenomenal amount of money and one that will make a real difference to the families we support.

Every pound raised will help us continue providing Milly Bags and support to families at a time when their entire world has collapsed.

The team’s generosity didn’t stop there. Alongside the fundraising, they also collected a huge number of toiletry donations for our Milly Bags and delivered them to our unit this week. It was lovely to welcome them back and have the opportunity to thank them properly in person.

A very special mention must go to Olivia’s parents and family. There are no words that can take away the heartbreak of losing a child. Yet year after year, they continue to honour Olivia’s memory by helping other families facing their own difficult journeys.

What they have created in Olivia’s name is something truly special. Olivia’s legacy lives on, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the incredible support this event receives year after year. The kindness, generosity and commitment shown by so many people is a wonderful reflection of just how loved and remembered Olivia continues to be.

From all of us at Milly’s Smiles, thank you. We are incredibly grateful for your support, your friendship and everything you do in Olivia’s memory.

Back in March, I received a phone call from Postcode Lottery to tell me that a street close to Milly’s Smiles had won its Millionaire Street prize.

As part of this prize, local charities also receive funding thanks to Postcode Lottery players. When we found out that Milly’s Smiles had been chosen to receive funding, we were delighted!

What happened next made it even more special.

The winning street was on the very estate where Milly lived, and one of the winning families had previously received a Milly Bag when their child was being treated at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Sometimes life has a funny way of bringing things full circle. When we discovered the connection between the winning street, Milly’s home, and a family who had received a Milly Bag, it felt like one of those moments that reminds you there are sometimes bigger things at work than we’ll ever fully understand.

A few weeks later, we received £40,000 in funding, made possible thanks to Postcode Lottery players.

We have put part of the funding towards replacing our old delivery van, which had served us well but was becoming increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain.

We are now the proud owners of a new electric van that will help us deliver Milly Bags to hospitals across the country for many years to come.

Every journey this van makes represents a family at the very beginning of their childhood cancer journey, when everything feels uncertain and overwhelming. Being able to get our bags where they are needed, quickly and reliably, is incredibly important to us.

To every Postcode Lottery player, thank you. Your support is helping us continue Milly’s legacy and ensure families receive comfort and practical support when they need it most.

I genuinely don’t know where to start with our event last Saturday!

What an afternoon! The room was just full of energy from the minute it started… dancing, singing, laughing, and people just coming together to have a genuinely brilliant time, all whilst raising money for Milly’s Smiles.

The success of the whole day, and the biggest thank you, is all down to Jess. This whole event was pulled together by her. She brought the presenters together (who were all phenomenal), organised everything behind the scenes, kept the energy going all afternoon and created something really special.

People see the event itself, but they don’t always see the amount of time, stress, organising and running around that goes into making something like this happen.

Jess, you absolutely smashed it, and we are so incredibly grateful for everything

A huge thank you as well to the amazing presenters, who gave their time and energy completely free of charge. Each of them brought something unique and fun, and they were loved by everyone.

We would also like to to mention the effort everyone made with their outfits – the room was filled with cowboy hats, boots, sparkles, denim, tassels… we even had horses join us! Everybody completely threw themselves into it, and it honestly just made the whole afternoon feel even more special and fun.

Finally, thank you to every single person who came along, danced, sang, bought raffle tickets, donated and supported the day. Events like this remind me just how lucky we are to have such amazing people around us – the total amount raised was an incredible £2,461.00!

This is fantastic and will go towards supporting children and their families at a time when their whole world has fallen apart.