Category: News

Today we made our second delivery of the week, this time to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

The timing of our visit was perfect, giving us the chance to catch up with the wonderful Barrington, who was there entertaining children on the wards.

Barrington was incredible with Milly during her time on Ward 84 in Manchester, and over the years he’s become a good friend.

He is also the talent behind our beautiful logo, which makes moments like this feel very special

On arrival we were met by the Ward Housekeeper, Louise who always makes us feel so welcome. Louise and Barrington helped us take the Milly Bags onto Ward 3B, (and in true Barrington style there was plenty of fun along the way along the way).

Today’s delivery takes us to 550 Milly Bags delivered to Alder Hey, since we began in October 2018.

That’s 550 families across Liverpool, the surrounding areas and the Isle of Man we’ve been able to support.

We never, ever take what we do for granted. It only happens because of the incredible people who support us, fund us and believe in us.

We can’t change a diagnosis, but we can make a small difference at a time when a family’s world has completely fallen apart.

#MillysSmiles #AlderHey #ChildhoodCancerSupport

Today is the start of a busy week of deliveries for us.

Firstly we have Milly Bags making their way to Ward C2 at Cambridge Children’s Hospital (this is only our second delivery to Cambridge, and takes our total bags to them to 40).

This delivery is travelling by pallet, collected from our unit and delivered straight to the hospital. It’s a far more cost-effective option for the charity, helping us make every penny go further.

What doesn’t change however, is the care. Every single bag is packed with love and attention so it arrives in the same perfect condition in which it left.

We are so proud knowing our Milly Bags are reaching further across the country and that more families will receive support at a time when their whole world has collapsed.

Thank you to every single person who supports us, funds us, packs with us and believes in what we do.

We are so proud to be making a difference to families every single day.

Earlier this week Graeme and Mark were back on the road to Leeds, delivering Milly Bags to Ward L31 along with a box of Journals for the Transplant Ward.

The team were met by Elaine, who as always had the biggest smile waiting for them. The bags were quickly unloaded and whisked straight onto the ward, ready to reach families who need them most.

It is always such a lovely visit to Leeds. We are consistently made to feel so welcome, and that kindness means more than we can say.

Elaine also shared several reviews with us today, and they truly warmed our hearts. We love receiving feedback because it validates what we do. It reminds us that each Milly Bag is more than just practical support. It is comfort. It is understanding. It is knowing someone cares at a time when families feel that their entire world has collapsed.

This delivery takes our total number of Milly Bags delivered to Leeds to 450. That represents an incredible £63,000 invested directly into supporting families facing childhood cancer in Leeds and the surrounding area.

To every single person who donates, fundraises, volunteers, or quietly champions our work behind the scenes, thank you. We are one big team. We simply could not do this without your belief in us and in what Milly’s Smiles stands for.

We are so proud to be making a difference to families every single day.

Last weekend we held our monthly SOULS group and treated our lovely families to a beautiful breakfast from Brie Mine Deli & Bistro.

Everyone was spoilt for choice, from fruit compote and fresh pastries to croissants with preserves, fresh fruit and orange juice, giving the whole morning a calm and relaxing feel.

What I always notice at SOULS is that if you walked past the room, you probably wouldn’t think we were a bereavement group. There is laughter. There are stories. There are moments of lightness that sit alongside the heavy ones.

And that is the magic of being with people who truly understand. We can laugh without guilt, cry without explanation, and hold space for one another whenever it’s needed.

SOULS is completely free to attend and is open to anyone living with the loss of a child, grandchild or sibling. You don’t have to walk this path alone.

If you would like more information about joining us, please email: hello@millysmiles.org or WhatsApp 07555541987.

A few weeks ago we were contacted by Elite Competitions who asked if they could come and spend some time with us to learn more about Milly’s Smiles and the support we provide to families facing childhood cancer, as they were keen to promote us as part of the community work they do.

It was genuinely lovely to meet the whole team. They were so warm, interested and really wanted to understand what life looks like for families when a child is diagnosed, and how our support helps make a difference at a time when their entire world has collapsed.

Then, just as they were leaving, they completely surprised us with an incredible donation of £5,000. We honestly didn’t expect it and it meant such a lot to us.

Thank you Elite Competitions for your kindness, your time and your support. It will help us continue being there for families when they need it most.

Saddle up… the 3rd Annual Milly’s Smiles Danceathon is BACK and this year we’re trading glow sticks for cowboy boots!

We are going FULL COUNTRY HOEDOWN!

Saturday 9th May

1pm to 4pm

All Saints Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, BB5 5HT

Expect 3 whole hours of boot-stompin’, hip-shakin’, yee-haw-level fun with an incredible line-up of instructors including Panache & Zumba plus our very special guest – Rodeo Duo!

No dance skills required. Just bring energy, laughter, and maybe a hat that’s larger than your personality.

Every step helps Milly’s Smiles continue making a difference at a time when families feel their whole world has collapsed.

To secure your place please contact Jess on: 07450 413166.

Tickets: £25 each.

This week we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming five lovely pupils from Oakhill School, who came along to help us pack Milly Bags.

They were all so polite, kind, and genuinely engaged in what they were doing, taking care with every bag packed. It was an absolute joy to have them with us.

Oakhill School have chosen Milly’s Smiles as one of their charities for the year, which feels especially close to our hearts as Milly herself was once a pupil at their nursery school (many years ago).

The school’s sponsored walk and hot chocolate stall at the recent firework display have already raised a significant amount of money for us, and we are so grateful for the support they have given.

They school are planning more activities, and we look forward to working with them to allow us to continue making a difference when a families entire world has collapsed.

Thank you so much to everyone at Oakhill School and Nursery.

Last year, Siemens Energy Manchester got in touch to ask if they could choose Milly’s Smiles as their Charity of the Year, following an incredibly difficult time for one of their colleagues and her family.

In November 2023, Lucy’s daughter, Evie, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and began a long and intense journey of treatment on Ward 86 at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

During that time, we were able to support Lucy, Evie and their family, with a Milly bag, which made such a difference to the family, and knowing this means more than we can ever put into words.

Throughout 2025 the Siemens Energy team truly went above and beyond. Through walking 5K for Milly, setting up an elephant knitting team, taking on lots of different challenges, and even coming onto the unit to help pack Milly Bags, they raised an incredible £9,654.00 for Milly’s Smiles.

This support helps us make a difference at a time when families feel that their entire world has collapsed, and we are so incredibly grateful that they chose to support us in this way.

Thank you to everyone at Siemens Energy for your compassion, your time and your generosity. It really does mean so much. Every penny will go towards our work supporting families just like Evie’s.

We send our love to Evie and her family and wish her well with her ongoing treatment.

Today, Graeme and Mark made our very first delivery of 2026 to the wonderful team at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

They hand-delivered a further 20 Milly Bags, taking our total to an incredible 1,040 bags, representing £145,600 worth of support.

But more than numbers, that’s 1,040 families whose world changed forever when they heard the words “your child has cancer.”

In those moments when everything feels like it’s fallen apart, we are so humbled to be able to offer comfort, kindness and practical support.

We are incredibly grateful to be able to do this every single day, across a large part of the country.

A huge thank you to our brilliant delivery team who do an amazing job, often with very little notice.

And thank you to each and every one of you who continues to support us and donate, every single penny truly makes a difference.