We are thrilled to be one of the chosen charities of North Lancs Training Group for this year, and it was lovely to welcome some of their team into our unit earlier this month.
The team already have lots planned for the year and their fundraising is already underway – at their visit, we were presented with a cheque for £350, which was raised at one of their recent staff team meetings.
We are really excited to working with the such a great company and we thank all the staff for choosing us as one of their charities.
It was lovely to welcome another one of our fabulous knitters into the unit last month. when Karen called in with a collection of extremely cute rainbow elephants.
In total Karen has knitted a total of 150 elephants, which is just fantastic. Our knitters are such a huge part of Milly’s Smiles, every single knitter gives up their time so selflessly to create these gorgeous elephants, and for that we will be forever grateful.
Our SOULS group this month was a lovely session. Despite us all being brought together because we have lost our precious children, there is a lot of love and support, combined with joy and laughter surrounding the groups.
Our groups are free to attend, we have no expectations, and you are made to feel so very welcome with people who totally understand.
Sunday 29 September is the date of our next group, please get in touch if you would like to book on – hello@millyssmiles.org.
We had a fabulous time at the Great Harwood Live Music Day over the bank holiday weekend. The music was amazing, and kept the crowds thoroughly entertained throughout the afternoon, people even forgot about the awful weather!
We had our Milly’s Smiles stall there and so many lovely people came to visit us and say hello. Our lovely volunteer Karen was offering face painting and I think she must have painted over 100 faces.
We were also joined by the wonderful Brie Mine U.K. and Holy Cannoli who were selling their exceptional food during the day.
The whole event supported Milly’s Smiles and all the artists gave their time for free.
A huge thank you goes out to Colin for arranging the whole day, to Billy who was a star with our collection bucket, to Louise who kept us supplied with hot drinks and to our amazing volunteers Carrie, Lucy, Diana and Karen.
Finally thank you to the people of Great Harwood for taking Milly’s Smiles into your hearts and for being totally amazing, we raised just over £500 which is amazing and will be put to good use supporting children who are newly diagnosed with cancer and admitted into hospital unexpectedly.
August has been our busiest month for a long time, we have delivered to the Children’s Hospitals at Nottingham, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds and yesterday to Liverpool.
A total of 100 Milly Bags have left our unit this month, thankfully we have had some brilliant volunteers who have packed the bags for us, which has ensured we have been ready to make a delivery at a moments notice.
Yesterday, Graeme headed over to Alder Hey and was met by Pip, from the play team who helped him unload the bags, she then took them safely off to Ward 3B.
Normally we try and have 2 people on deliveries, however Graeme was on his own yesterday so only managed a couple of photos as he was juggling the weather, loading the bags into the cage and negotiating with the parking attendant!
A total of 430 Milly Bags have now been sent to Alder Hey, and we feel very privileged that we are able to offer this support to all families whose child has been newly diagnosed with cancer.
Thank you for all our fundraisers, supporters, bag packers and volunteers who continue to believe in Milly’s Smiles. We make a difference every single day.
On Sunday 3 November at 11am we will be hosting our 10th Annual Walk, leaving from our unit, on Alan Ramsbottom Way, Great Harwood, BB6 7UA.
Whilst every walk is special to us, this years walk is especially so, as it is to honour Milly’s 21st Birthday. We have always had such amazing support and attendance at Milly’s Walk and we would love for that to be the same this year too.
Food and drink will be provided, and because it is Milly’s 21st Birthday I am sure there will be cakes too!
Sponsorship is optional, but always very much appreciated. If you would like a sponsor form please get in touch.
The walk is approximately 3 miles, it can be muddy depending on the weather and dogs are always welcome.
Yesterday was a huge day for us – we made our first delivery to Kamran’s Ward at Oxford Children’s Hospital!
Earlier this year I met one of the Oncology Consultants from Oxford at a Children’s Cancer Conference, and since then I have been speaking with the Ward Manager about the possibility of Milly’s Smiles supporting their newly diagnosed children.
Yesterday, after weeks of planning, everything came together and Graeme and I travelled 190 miles to Oxford, with 20 Milly Bags for Kamran’s Ward (which is the Children’s Oncology Ward).
On arrival, we were greeted by Karen, the Ward Manager, and Angela, the Housekeeper, who kindly helped load the bags into a cage which we then took up to the ward.
It always feels strange to go onto a ward, I feel instantly transported back in time to when Milly and I walked onto Ward 84 at Manchester for the first time. Whilst feeling exceptionally proud of what we are achieving for Milly, I also feel so sad that this is now my world, a world without Milly, a world where I work every day to keep her memory and legacy alive.
We were given a tour around the ward, and met some of the staff working there. Children’s cancer wards are always such bright positive places and this was no different. Kamran’s Ward is a 9 bedded ward which makes them one the smallest, in terms of beds, that we support, however, they are one of the busiest, with around 130 new admissions each year.
To support the ward for a year will cost Milly’s Smiles £18,200, we feel so proud to be able to take on this commitment and will continue to provide our Milly Bags for as long as the Ward will let us.
Each time we take on a new hospital it is always because of the unfailing support we get from the wider community, every donation, fundraising activity, every toiletry item that we receive really does make such a difference – a difference that means we can expand into more hospitals.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support us, this is all possible because of you.
Linda is one of our long term elephant knitters and she called into the unit recently to drop off another gorgeous herd that she had created.
“I have been knitting elephants for Milly’s Smiles since 2019. I used to work in nursing, either in maternity or out on evening visits around the Ribble Valley. Unfortunately a work related accident meant I had to find a different role.
I have always used knitting as a way of relaxing, but my accident meant that I was only able to manage small projects. Hence knitting the elephants for the wonderful Milly’s Smiles. This allows me to continue enjoying my hobby whilst also giving me a sense of purpose too.”
Linda has knitted around 400 elephants over the last 5 years which is just incredible.
Our elephant knitters are all a huge part of our team at Milly’s Smiles, and we are so grateful to each and every one of them.
Our pattern is available to download from our website for any interested knitters.
For just over 12 months we have been supporting Ward E39 at Nottingham Children’s Hospital with our Milly Bags.
Today we sent over a third delivery, taking the total number of bags to 75, however our delivery today was slightly different in that a pallet company took the bags for us, and will deliver them to the hospital on Friday.
Because we are still very new on Ward E39 we have not had much feedback from families whom we have supported, and whilst this is totally expected, it does always warm our hearts when we do hear from families.
Today, Charlie’s mum sent some lovely photos of her son when he was given a Milly Bag after he was admitted recently with sepsis and treated on PICU. Charlie was initially diagnosed in May 2021 with leukaemia, at that time we were not supporting the ward and so Charlie did not have a bag. (Treatment for boys with leukaemia is over 3 and a half years, so Charlie is still having ongoing treatment).
Because Charlie’s admission was totally unexpected and he was looking at a prolonged stay in hospital the ward gave him a Milly Bag, which Charlie loved and mum found really helpful.
We are forever thankful that we are able to make a difference to children and their families every day, and we send lots of love and strength to Charlie as he approaches the end of his treatment.
Our SOULS group last month was quieter than usual due to holidays but we did have some new people join us. The hardest thing about our group is actually walking through the door for the first time. Once you have done that you are made to feel welcome and comfortable very quickly.
We had a lovely guest at the group – Sharon, who came along to show us how to make a selection of fabulous light up bottles. As always it was a lovely few hours spent with parents, grandparents and siblings walking the same path and navigating life without their precious child.
Our next group is on Sunday 25th March at 11am. Please get in touch if you would like, or know anyone who would like to come to our next session
