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.
