Rays of Sunshine kicks off Big Give Christmas Challenge with double donations to grant more magical wishes for seriously ill children

Rays of Sunshine is excited to be part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge where all donations be DOUBLED between 3-10 December to help grant magical wishes for seriously ill children. 

During this special week all donations are generously being matched thanks to an anonymous donor and our friends at the Reed Foundation meaning supporters’ generosity will have double the impact this Christmas.   

Each wish Rays of Sunshine grants is a light in the dark for children and their families going through incredibly difficult times. 

By donating between 3-10 December, you’ll be helping Rays of Sunshine deliver wishes like 4-year-old Lenny’s. When he was just two years old, Lenny was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour on his kidney. His family received the diagnosis around Christmas time, and Lenny’s mum Sophie says it was a huge shock. 

“Christmas as a child is supposed to be full of magic and excitement and fun, and yet ours became totally focused on hospitals, doctors and treatment,” she says. 

“When we were recommended to get in touch with Rays of Sunshine, it was a bit of a turning point,” Sophie adds. “I couldn’t help with the medical side of Lenny’s treatment, but I knew that I could apply for a wish for him.” 

Because so much of Lenny’s previous Christmas was impacted by his diagnosis, his family decided on visiting Lapland UK for Lenny’s wish. His experience included ice skating, decorating gingerbread men (one of his favourite foods), making toys with the elves, and of course, a visit to Father Christmas!  

Reflecting on Lenny’s wish, Sophie says, “Our family is a young one, and so many of our memories were tinged with that anxiety of Lenny being unwell. It was so important for us to have happy memories together, and that’s exactly what Lenny’s wish was able to give us. 

Read more about Lenny’s story.

Right now, there are 400 seriously or terminally ill children like Lenny waiting for their wish. These children’s lives revolve around doctor’s appointments; hospital stays and treatment instead of school and time with family and friends. They can feel isolated from their peers and forgotten about. 

Having a wish granted gives the child and their family something positive to focus on, something to look forward to and helps build confidence back when they need it the most.   

Rays of Sunshine has until 10th December at midday to raise £20,000.  

To get involved, please head to our Big Give donation page and give as generously as you can.  

Amy Chambers, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Rays of Sunshine, says: “We are so grateful to everyone who gets involved in our Big Give campaign this year. We have such an amazing opportunity to have twice the magical impact on seriously ill children and their families this week.  

“The demand for wishes is higher than ever before, and every penny raised will help us brighten the lives of seriously ill children like Lenny this Christmas and beyond.”