Earlier this week we sent our 5th pallet to Oxford, containing a further 20 Milly Bags for Oxford Children’s Hospital. It was lovely to welcome our new collection driver, who was very happy to pose for a photo in the sunshine!
We have been supporting Kamrans Ward at Oxford for almost 12 months and this will be our 5th delivery taking the total number of bags sent to 95.
We are so proud of our how far we reach with our Milly Bags, it is very humbling to be able to support so many families going through one of the most difficult times of their lives. We will always be grateful to everyone who donates, fundraises, or volunteers their time to us, without you we would not be able to make such a huge difference every single day.
Some people truly take Milly’s Smiles into their hearts, and Andy and his family are one of those special few.
After Andy’s daughter Darcie received a Milly Bag on Ward 86, the Tobutt family have spent the last 12 months doing the most incredible fundraising and awareness-raising on our behalf. We have been overwhelmed by their kindness and support.
Andy’s school, The Co-op Academy Walkden have gone above and beyond with a range of unique and brilliant fundraising events over the school year. We were thrilled to be invited to their recent Celebration Evening, where we were proudly presented with a cheque for £3,180.13!
Darcie’s school, Leyland St James Primary, also joined in to show their support, holding a dress in Orange Day last week. All the staff and pupils wore something orange and donated to Milly’s Smiles. They raised a fantastic £751.75. We were especially thrilled to have our Chair of Trustees, Gemma, attend to talk about Milly’s Smiles.
In April this year, Andy took on his own challenge of completing the London Marathon, which he did whilst also raising a massive £6800.00.
We are so grateful to this amazing family, their support has been phenomenal, and will make such a difference to us. We are also so happy to share that Darcie is doing incredibly well with her treatment and is looking forward to her summer holidays.
Thank you, Andy, Darcie, and the whole Tobutt family. Your support means the world to us.
Last week, the amazing and incredibly brave Mohammed took a giant leap and completed a bungee jump to raise money for Milly’s Smiles!
Mohammed chose to support us after his daughter Juwairiya (Juwy), was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in December 2023. Due to the severity of her cancer, Juwy developed osteoporosis which caused fractures to her spine in multiple places, and meant that she had to spend 4 months on bedrest, on Ward 86 at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Mohammed told us that getting a Milly Bag was one of the first kind gestures they received, and it really touched all their hearts. Everything inside the bag was useful and well used. Juwy slept every night with the blanket, the rainbow elephant and the heat pad and the bag is still used for hospital visits today.
Juwy continues to use her rainbow blanket and wear her beanie hat too, and thankfully she is now doing really well with her treatment and is walking and back at her primary school.
To show his thanks Mohammed took on the challenge of throwing himself (safely!) off a platform in a massive bungee jump, and so far he’s raised an incredible £1,036.00 for Milly’s Smiles!
A huge thank you to Mohammed for his bravery and support. Everyone at Milly’s Smiles are so grateful to you and your beautiful family, we send our love to you all, especially Juwy who we think is an absolute superstar.
On Sunday peacefully in Madrid, our amazing, beautiful Ambasador Lucy passed away with her mum and dad beside her.
To say we are devastated doesn’t come close to describing how heartbroken we are. Lucy has been such a huge part of Milly’s Smiles for so many years. She has spoken at many corporate events, she has been a passionate champion of our Adopt an Elephant scheme and has supported so many of our own fundraisers, all whilst bravely facing neuroblastoma and enduring the harsh treatments that came with it.
Throughout everything, Lucy showed the most incredible dignity and grace. She never complained, despite travelling internationally in order to access treatment. She simply got on with it, determined to live her life as fully and as joyfully as she could.
It has been an honour and a privilege to know her. Her strength, her kindness, and her beautiful spirit have left a mark on all of us, and she will be missed more than words can say.
We send all our love to her amazing mum and dad, and to her lovely brother Sam.
Fly high, beautiful Lucy. I know that Milly and her friends will be wrapping you up in their arms and holding you close.
We will always speak your name. And your legacy will live on through your incredible family and the love you’ve shared with us all.
Would you like to meet other parents, grandparents, siblings and families who truly understand, and who can offer support, compassion, and a listening ear?
We warmly invite you to come along to our Open Day to find out more about our monthly bereavement support groups.
Our groups are friendly, welcoming, and supportive. We offer a safe space where you can talk, listen, or simply be alongside others who are walking the same path.
Please feel free to call in and see if our support feels right for you, we would to meet you.
Milly’s Smiles, Unit 4, Alan Ramsbottom Way, Great Harwood, Blackburn. BB6 7UA.
Last week we received this beautiful message from a family currently staying on Kamran’s Ward at Oxford Children’s Hospital, and we wanted to share a little of it because it speaks to the heart of why Milly’s Smiles exists.
“Just wanted to send you a message to say thank you for our beautiful bag. It’s made our poorly pup very happy, and Milly the elephant has been welcomed into the bunny fold. Thank you for all you do. Love, Ellie and Elodie x”
Ellie went on to share a little more of their journey. Her daughter Elodie has been diagnosed with a rare spindle cell tumour. After surgery, they had hoped for home but during a follow-up MRI, Elodie had a seizure and was readmitted.
“It’s relentlessly scary, and we’re running on adrenaline for sure, but I cannot tell you how much she already treasures her blanket. And the neck pillow is currently being used to keep her cannula hand propped up.”
“It’s like a big family here. So many shared experiences, everyone scared and putting on a brave face, but equally everyone happy to stop and give you a hug whilst you cry. You don’t know it until you go through it.”
We are deeply moved by Ellie’s words. Our Milly Bags are filled with both comfort and essential items, each bag is packed with love and support and is a reminder that families are not alone on this overwhelming and frightening journey.
To Ellie and Elodie we are holding you in our hearts, and sending love and strength to you both.
To everyone who supports Milly’s Smiles this is the difference you help us to make, every single day.
We are incredibly proud of our ongoing collaboration with the amazing TeamLuke Foundation.
Together, we’re reaching families in Newcastle and the surrounding area at a time when their world has completely changed forever, our Milly Bags make such a difference for families at a time when they really need it.
Last week marked the fifth delivery with TeamLuke making a total of 50 Milly Bags, and we’re so grateful to their brilliant team for making it happen on our behalf. Every Milly Bag delivered represents love, understanding, and the strength of working together to make a difference.
Thank you, TeamLuke, we think you are all incredible and your support means the world.
We were thrilled to welcome the The BIBAs judges to Milly’s Smiles HQ last week, as part of the next stage in the awards process. We are so thrilled and incredibly proud that our charity has made it through to the finals!
We feel very honoured to be in the running alongside some incredible community organisations, and today gives us a chance to share what we do, why we do it, and introduce some of our incredible team who work so hard behind the scenes.
The big awards night is in September, wish us luck!
Last week we welcomed two very special volunteers to Milly’s Smiles HQ; Charlie (Milly’s much-loved dog) and her sister Matilda!
They took their roles very seriously, and their first task was to guard a pallet of 25 Milly Bags, which Graeme had prepared and was all ready to head off to Ward E39 at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
We are very happy to report that the bags were safely collected (with no dog treats stolen in the process!), and even the driver happily posed for a quick photo before setting off!
This latest delivery brings us to a total of 145 Milly Bags provided to Nottingham which is 145 families supported during one of the most overwhelming times in their lives.
A huge thank you to Charlie and Matilda for their dedication, and to all our supporters who help make this possible we are so privileged to be able to make a difference every single day.
On 2nd January 2020, at just 5 years old, Harrison was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His parents had spent weeks battling escalating symptoms and unanswered questions before finally hearing the words no family ever wants to hear: “Your child has cancer.”
Harrison was sent to Ward 86 at Manchester Children’s Hospital, he was in kidney failure and too unwell to have the Hickman line fitted that he needed to begin treatment. Then, one terrifying night, he suffered a traumatic five-hour nosebleed and needed several blood transfusions.
Harrison was taken to ICU and placed on a ventilator due to complications which was such a frightening time for everyone. Thankfully, the rest and sleep helped his body recover just enough to begin the fight ahead.
It was during those early, disorienting days that his family received a Milly Bag. A small gesture that, in their words, “made us feel like we weren’t alone.” His rainbow blanket and elephant became daily comforts. Mum used the notebook to record vital information she couldn’t retain due to the stress and worry of what was going on. Even the toiletries were a lifeline when they had arrived at hospital with nothing at all with them.
Today, five years on, Harrison is doing incredibly well, he is a happy and strong young boy who continues to amaze everyone around him.
Recently, his family held a special celebration evening to mark five years in remission. We were honoured to be invited and thrilled that the evening raised an incredible £1,211, with a further £500 donated by Harrison’s aunty’s employer.
The whole evening was fabulous, made even more special by the presence of two of Milly’s wonderful nurses from Ward 86. But the most emotional moment of all was watching Harrison ring the End of Treatment Bell once more. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
To Harrison’s family a huge thank you for inviting us to share your evening, and for choosing Milly’s Smiles to support. You are helping us to continue supporting children just like Harrison every single day.
