PEDAL power, pumpkins and bananas were among the wide range of fund-raising themes resulting in donations of more than £2,600 to a Warwick children’s charity.
Leamington Morrisons community champion Alex Pearson and her friend Emma Brayne from Warwick were joined by Alex’s two canine companions as they travelled almost 12km – and negotiated 27 locks – in a pedalo, raising £1,922 for Molly Olly’s Wishes.
The pair completed weeks of training to prepare for the eight-hour challenge, from Radford Semele to at Hatton Locks, in July.
Their efforts, which had the support of Leamington Boats and The Canal River Trust, were boosted with fund-raising outside Morrisons in Leamington and match-funded by the store.
Other local businesses have also been busy, including The Edwards Company in Wombourne which has presented £400 through a series of fun fund-raising initiatives including Halloween competitions, guess the bananas in the jar competition, donating £1 every time they write a blog, and supporting the ‘O For Olly’ social media campaign.
Elsewhere, The Deli in Warwick has raised £100 by running a pumpkin carving competition and The Marketing Pod in Solihull – which is an integrated marketing agency – donated £200, after learning of the valuable work the charity did.
Molly Olly’s Wishes was established in 2011 following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.
The Warwick-based charity supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses and their families. It gives gifts, helps with emotional support and it donates therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK.
Founder Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “The money will allow us at Molly Olly’s to make lots of very poorly children smile with a wonderful gift that they or their family have chosen.”
Visit www.mollyolly.co.uk/learn-about-donating/ for ways to donate to Molly Olly’s Wishes.
