Every single wish, community event and hospital project, Rays of Sunshine has made possible in the last two decades (& counting!) can be traced back to one conversation between friends who wanted to help make the world a brighter place for seriously ill children.
Tony Blair was prime minister, In Da Club by 50 Cent is the biggest song of the year, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released, LinkedIn and Tesla are founded, David Beckham completed his £25 million move from Manchester United to Real Madrid and Roger Federer wins his first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon.
But most importantly, Ray of Sunshine was created with a mission to brighten the lives of seriously ill children across the UK.
Rays of Sunshine was born in the Autumn of 2003, in co-founder Daniel Coleman’s office at the time. In the room was Daniel, Stephen Allan, Mark Shipman, David Saul, Grant Fox, Tim Shaw and Tim Allan. The group had just finished a phone call with another charity which they’d all previously volunteered with.
The charity in question had run into difficulty, which meant that its UK branch would likely soon fold. There didn’t seem to be much that could be done to fix it. With heavy hearts, the group started to leave – until Steve stopped them. He said: "Hang on a minute...Why don’t we create a wish granting charity ourselves?"
Steve consulted paediatrician Dr Warren Hyer about the idea. After careful conversation and consideration, Dr Hyer introduced the team to one of his patients: Arjun.
Arjun was a massive Arsenal fan and wished more than anything to be able to visit the stadium and meet the team. Rays of Sunshine made Arjun’s wish come true. Sadly, Arjun was a very sick boy and he passed away not long after his wish was granted. His family took solace in the fact that one of Arjun’s final memories was filled with complete joy.
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Many of the earliest wishes in Rays of Sunshine’s history were planned around Steve and wife Hayley’s kitchen table.
Hayley joined the wish granting team alongside Jane Sharpe and Carmela Gordon. Before long, the charity outgrew its home in the Allan’s house, and with David Saul’s help was gifted its first offices in Wembley.
The move to Wembley also provided the opportunity for Rays of Sunshine to hire its first paid staff and CEO. Around this time, Jonathan Vandermolen, Richard Burston, Nick Davis and Justin Randall also became an instrumental part in supporting the charity.
Within the year, the charity hosted its first ever fundraising gala at the Savoy Hotel. It raised several hundred thousand pounds – and the magic continued from there.
Rays of Sunshine has granted more than 9,000 wishes and touched the lives of more than 80,000 seriously ill young people and their families.
The wishes the charity has granted have been as unique as the children themselves – from Zachary spotting the Loch Ness Monster, to Marjorie’s wish to become a British Airways air hostess for the day, or Sanna’s wish to meet her favourite pop star, Olly Murs.
Sanna has been an Olly Murs fan since she was young, so for her wish we called up Olly to organise a VIP day for Sanna, with a little help from our friends at The Fragrance Shop.
The pair got to chat, before being treated to a perfume making masterclass and then a photoshoot. When Sanna mentioned she was studying photography at A-Level, Olly encouraged her to get behind the camera!
“My favourite bit of the day was definitely being able to get behind the camera with Olly,” says Sanna. “My confidence was lacking before the wish. But even with that one experience, I feel louder.”
Rays of Sunshine was founded
The first ever Rays of Sunshine wish granted for Arjun, who wanted to watch his favourite football team Arsenal in action
Rays of Sunshine Ward Opening – funded £500,000 towards the ‘refurbishment’ of the ‘Rays of Sunshine’ Ward at Kings College Hospital London, which has gone on to be a home to children with liver disease, many of whom will go on to have liver transplants
Partnership with The Fragrance Shop begins
One Direction wish day (most number of families granted a wish in one day) – 50 families were invited to Wembley arena to meet the stars
Rays of Sunshine’s choir perform at the Royal Albert Hall with two very special guests; Pixie Lott and Aston Merrygold
Rays of Sunshine announced as Nomura’s Charity Partner 2017-19
6000th wish was 13-year-old Majorie’s wish to be a British Airways air hostess
Ward Wishes granted for a sensory room makeover at Northwick Park Hospital and a garden makeover at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth
Nomura Partnership raises £630,000
We won our largest corporate partnership in the charity’s history with Deutsche Bank, worth £2m over two years
Rays of Sunshine was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Rays of Sunshine it’s celebrates 15th birthday
Rays of Sunshine grants 7,000th wish for Zachary to find the Loch Ness Monster
Partnership with Deutsche Bank announces it’s raised £1.18million over two years and 686 wishes in year two of the partnership.
Covid-19 Pandemic – Rays of Sunshine moves to online wishes and activities to continue to help families through this time
18-year-old Joe Lunn, who was battling a rare form of cancer, took on a 100-mile cycle challenge at home to raise funds for Rays of Sunshine raising over £15,000. Joe sadly died in 2021 and his family and friends ‘Team Forever 19’ have took on many challenges raising funds in Joe’s memory for Rays of Sunshine ever since.
Partnership with Smyths Toystores begins
Our #WhatIWouldGive campaign raises over £1.4million
Sheffield Children’s Hospital Secures Grant for Immersive Technology for Children’s Cancer Ward
Wish granter Sarah celebrates 15 years and over 900 wishes granted with the charity
First official Wish Community Events hosted with a ‘Wishmas’ programme at Christmas to bring families together.
Rays of Sunshine and YouTube stars Sidemen grant VIP Hamleys toy store wish for seven families
Laura Bird becomes the first woman to run the London Marathon with a fridge on her back raising over £15,000 for Rays of Sunshine
21st anniversary gala dinner raises over £1 million in one night
9,000th wish granted instore at the Fragrance Shop with Olly Murs
Co-Founder Stephen Allan honoured with OBE in King’s 2025 New Years Honours List
Rays of Sunshine’s Sunshine Choir launches charity single “Rainbow” with Silvastone
Ambassadors Daz Black & Will raise over £43,000 in their six hour livestream.
Best friends Nick and Jordan run length of the UK and raise £10K to grant more magical wishes to seriously ill children
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