
Rachel Ollerenshaw and Olly the Brave from Molly Olly’s Wishes, with Rachel Canning and Adrian Hutchinson from Clements
A children’s charity is reaching new heights thanks to the generosity of a leading Coventry-based equipment hire firm.
Clements, based in Torrington Avenue, has made Molly Olly’s Wishes the firm’s official charity after the company’s Chairman Jim Longstaff was inspired by the organisation’s work after hearing about them at a pantomime production.
Molly Olly’s Wishes, based at Hatton Park near Warwick, supports children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses across the UK by providing wishes and therapeutic toys and books.
The charity was launched by the family of Molly Ollerenshaw, who sadly passed away in June 2011 at the age of eight following a five year battle with a rare type of kidney cancer.
One of the ways the charity supports children is through Olly The Brave – a specially created therapeutic toy lion that has a removable mane. The toy helps children understand the treatment they will or are receiving and some of the side effects such as the loss of their hair.
And now Molly Olly’s Wishes is set to be given a lift throughout the course of the year as Clements has pledged to donate all money raised from its fundraising activities to the children’s charity.
Clements has painted one of its aerial work platforms pink in support of the charity, and the support doesn’t end there – other members of the Clements team are also pitching in as well.
Jim said: “The team was instantly touched by the fantastic work that Molly Olly’s Wishes carry out locally and across the UK. I first heard about the great work they do when a representative from the charity did a short presentation at a pantomime production I took my daughter to.
“We think there’s such great potential to work together and for our company to support them. With a local charity like this, the more people that know about it the better as there are so many opportunities to fundraise.”
To start the fundraising off the company presented a cheque for £1,500.00 and agreed to make a long-term commitment to the cause.
Rachel Canning, financial director at Clements, is also gearing up to run the Coventry Half Marathon in February on behalf of Molly Olly’s Wishes.
She said: “This will be the third time I’ve done the Coventry Half Marathon and I’m determined to make as much money as I can for the charity.
“I’m running whenever I can, and doing it a bit of swimming for fitness too, so hopefully I can beat 1 hour 51 minutes which my time last year.
“I’ll be badgering my colleagues and customers for sponsorship before the run on February 28, as we’ve all been inspired by Molly Olly’s and want to do them proud.”
Rachel Ollerenshaw, Molly’s mother and trustee of Molly Olly’s Wishes, added: “We are delighted that Clements are supporting Molly Olly’s Wishes by raising funds and helping raise awareness.
“The pink aerial work platform is unusual and with the butterfly logo over it I’m sure people will stop and ask what it is all about.
“We are extremely grateful for their support and we are looking forward to cheering Rachel on with the run and hopefully raising lots of money to help more children. “
For more information about the charity go to www.mollyolly.co.uk.
Rachel can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Canning1.