A golf day organised in aide of national children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, which supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses, has raised an incredible £26,252.
Jointly organised and sponsored by Oakland International and Avanti Print and Packaging, 17-teams from across England, Scotland and Wales took part despite the challenging weather to compete for golf titles including Beat the Pro, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin, before an evening auction and grand raffle of items donated by suppliers and supporters of the charity.
Oakland’s Chief Operating Officer Lee Whiting commented: “Molly Olly’s Wishes is an amazing charity which supports so many poorly children throughout the UK.
“We would like to thank everyone who joined us and supported this, our first ever joint event of this nature, which we are now going to make into an annual event, setting our fundraising target even higher next year!”
Joint sponsor Avanti Print and Packing’s Paul Elliot added: “Molly Olly’s Wishes is an incredible charity supporting children with life-threatening illnesses all over the UK.
“We are overwhelmed with the support and generosity received from the attendees of the event and I would like to personally thank each and every one of them. The Avanti and Oakland Teams will be back again next year to help raise even more money for Molly Olly’s Wishes. Bring on 2022!!”
Molly Olly’s Wishes grants individual wishes and donating therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK and grants some 40 wishes per month, an increase of 100% during lockdown, and at a time when funding has significantly reduced.
Charity co-founder Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “The golf day and auction were a huge success. We are extremely grateful to Jane, Lee, Paul and Holly at Oakland and Avanti for organising such a great day and helping to widen the reach of the charity with introductions to a new audience. All the golfers were very generous and big thanks to all the sponsors. Molly Olly’s has seen a sharp rise in the number of requests for support and the funds raised are much needed to enable us to fulfil those wishes which help to put a smile on poorly children’s faces.”
Like so many other charities Molly Olly’s Wishes has found it difficult to fundraise over the last year due to the pandemic. An average wish costs around £500 and can range from a family day trip to a computer game to supermarket food vouchers.
Craig Lilly from the Perfect Personnel team said: “Well done to Rachel, Avanti Print and everyone at Oakland International for organising such an amazing day. It was a privilege and an honour to be a part of the fundraising for Molly Olly’s.
“Rachel and her family are an inspiration, the work they are doing is making a huge difference to these young children’s lives. They have captured our hearts and we will continue to support Molly Olly’s in any way we can in the future.”