26 November 2024
Terminally ill children given Hamleys of London ‘Wishmas’ party
Christmas experience organised by The Genie’s Wish following £10,000 donation from The Quilter Foundation
On 24th November 2024, 350 wish beneficiaries and supporters were given a magical ‘Wishmas party’ at the landmark London toyshop, Hamleys, organised by The Genie’s Wish charity.
The Genie’s Wish is a charity that works to enhance the lives of people who are suffering from a critical or terminal illness or living with a life-limiting medical condition. They also provide wish experiences to young carers aged 5-18 in recognition of their bravery, kindness and selflessness they display by caring for a family member.
The event was made possible due to a £10,000 donation form The Quilter Foundation, the charity of wealth manager Quilter, through its Local Community Fund.
The Fund offers grants of up to £10,000 to local charities nominated by Quilter employees and financial advisers. It supports The Quilter Foundation’s aim to improve the lives of young people in the UK, with every pound raised up to £100,000 being matched by Quilter.
The event offered the children a break from their daily life stresses with a special Christmas experience at London’s oldest toy shop.
Speaking at the event, John Silk, Parent to Vicky and Charity Ambassador said: “I’d like to thank both The Genie’s Wish and the sponsors, The Quilter Foundation, for making our trip to Hamleys such a special day. Our Vicky (who likes to be called Queenie) had an amazing time. She has a terminal heart and lung condition, and we aim to make each and every day a special one, and this was definitely one of those days. But it wasn't just Vicky who had a great day. As a parent of a child like Vicky, days like this lift the load from our shoulders. It gives us time to enjoy and see the rest of the family smile, laugh, and cry happy tears. I managed to speak to many other families, and it was so obvious that they were able to relax and enjoy, just like any other family would, taking a day to forget their worries.”
Katie Jones, executive director for The Genie’s Wish, said: “The Hamleys of London ‘Wishmas’ party allows wish recipients, their families, and our supporters to come together to celebrate the year and enjoy a fun festive morning in a more relaxed setting. It was a fantastic day and a chance for us to thank everyone personally for being a part of our mission, which was made possible due to Quilter’s kind donation.”
Harvey Rathore, partnerships manager for the Quilter Foundation, said: “Being able to support local community charities like The Genie’s Wish is a fundamental part of the Quilter Foundation’s work. We were delighted to be a part of such a special event held for these children and families, and we hope to continue championing local charities that are working tirelessly to support those who need it the most.”
The Quilter Foundation is dedicated to helping many thousands of young people who are experiencing challenges and is continuously looking for different ways in which it can support
local charities. This includes its recent three-year partnership with Meals & More and Feeding Britain, two charities which aim to eradicate child hunger across the UK.
