Month: August 2022

“It was very emotional for Tim and I seeing the cyclists in their Molly Olly pink tops ride in together to the finishing point to huge applause and a great welcome from family and friends. Knowing why we were there and what everyone has achieved, the difference that it will make for the children we support is truly humbling.”

The emotional words of Rachel Ollerenshaw – founder of Warwick-based charity, Molly Ollys, as 47 cyclists rode into The Durham Ox in Shrewley after three days of a gruelling charity ride covering 185 miles.

More than £70K has been raised by the riders who took part in the Charity’s 10th Anniversary charity cycle ride from York to Warwick which took place on 8,9,10 July. The route was especially poignant for the family as York was one of the last places they visited before Molly died in 2011 from kidney cancer at 8 years old.

The cycling group was waved off by York’s Sheriff Suzie Mercer at York Minster: “I know that for the cyclists taking part, this Charity holds a special place in their hearts. Whilst I never had the pleasure of meeting Molly, I know what a strong and determined young lady she was and so much good has been done in her name over the 10 years that the Charity has been going.”

The route was extremely tough in sweltering heat and with particularly steep hills, but the beautiful scenery helped to keep the cyclists going when they felt they couldn’t go on.

Karen Robbins – one of the cyclists who took part – lost her daughter Leanne 8 years ago to cancer; “I’m not great at words, but I would just like to say how humbling and special the weekend was, I still can’t believe we did it. It was a tough weekend on the hills, but we remember the tough, painful times the kids go through without complaining at the end of their very short lives. Everyone was amazing, there was lots of laughter and lots of tears… brings so many memories of my Leanne.”

Rachel said: “We decided to do this cycle event in 2022 to celebrate 10 years of Molly’s legacy. What a ride it was! It far exceeded our expectations on so many levels. This was a phenomenal team effort with so many highlights. The camaraderie between all the riders and support team made it a unique and very special few days. It was certainly a challenge, but all the riders faced every day head on and looked out for each other and helped their team of riders to complete each day. Thank you to everyone – riders, support team, friends, family and all those who have donated. All the cyclists should feel extremely proud.”

Over the 10 years Molly Ollys has been going, the Charity has helped more than 16,000 children – directly and indirectly – through delivering wishes, its Olly The Brave therapeutic toy lion and books and bespoke projects with the NHS.

Molly’s dad, Tim said; “Each wish we do for a child costs around £500 so £70K is at least 140 wishes – that is 140 children that we can make smile and help make the dark days brighter. This money will help create happy memories for the familes.”

 To make sure all of the cyclists were safe and kept hydrated, there were five support vehicles and several sponsors who enabled the event to take place. Huge thanks to Oakland International, SCC, HiB, Risk Evolves, Mills & Reeve, Langham Walsh Accountants, Allen Creative, New Horizons Logistics, Mosaic Island, Advanced Vehicle Contracts Leasing and Affordable Warmth Solutions.

Rotarians in Coventry and Warwickshire are helping to lead the way in tackling world hunger with the return of their food packing initiative in partnership with Feed The Hungry.

It will be all hands on deck when members of The Rotary Club of Warwick, Southam, Leamington, Kenilworth and Henley-in-Arden and Coventry Jubilee, Coventry Phoenix and Coventry Breakfast Rotary Clubs join volunteers from Feed The Hungry charity and others, to pack nearly 30,000 meals to be sent to children in Africa.

It marks a welcome return for the initiative after two years and organisers are inviting as many people as possible to lend their support, at King Henry VIII School in Coventry, on September 10^th, filling roles including packers, admin staff and car park marshals.

Jasminder Dhaliwal, of Heart of England Rotary, said: “We at Rotary District 1060 decided to help tackle the problem with local organisations. We believe in service, so a meal packing event where Rotarians and the local community could physically take part was ideal.

“Several clubs fundraised to get the money for the meals and then help pack them to send to Africa for their school feeding programme. In a lot of cases this is the only meal the child gets a day. It also encourages the children to attend school and get an education. It’s a day when hundreds of Rotarians, their families and friends actively get involved in a day of packing meals to be sent around the World.

“Rotary is working hard to reduce Hunger in the UK and overseas. 821 million people in the world don’t get the food they need.”

The food packs, which each feed six people, contain rice, lentils, soya and multivitamin sachets, were funded by a £9,500 Rotary donation and will be distributed by Feed The Hungry.

Feed The Hungry is an international charity which works to reduce world hunger by establishing feeding programs following disaster relief operations in 21 different countries worldwide. With its partner organisations, since 1987, they have globally assist in feeding over 420,000 children every day in 25 countries. FTH also provides disaster relief recovery programs through its network of community programs around the globe.

Gwyn Williams, International Operations Director for Feed The Hungry, said: “Feed the hungry has been involved in food packing events for 10 years here in the UK working with various organisations and has developed the Hand to Hand food packing program to enable schools, churches and charitable organisations get involved in this amazing event of packing High nutrition food for schools in Africa to encourage children to receive an education.

“Packing meals together as a community or school is an awesome experience not to be missed; but its more than that, and we would like to thank Heart of England Rotary and the students at King Henry VIII School in becoming World changers for thousands of children.”

Donations will also be invited on the day for volunteers of Trussell Trust foodbanks, who will be on hand to offer advice and information about their work.

Gwyn added: “Feed The Hungry also recognises the level of food poverty here in the UK. In 2020 we took over the management of Coventry Foodbank and have worked extensively in providing food provision through its network of Foodbanks, food pantries and community engagement programs throughout Coventry and Warwickshire with its amazing team of staff and volunteers.”

The Coventry and Warwickshire Rotary clubs were also joined by clubs in Birmingham and Redditch.

Anyone who would like to be involved can contact Jonathan Wilding on either 01384 423834 or jonathanwilding1958@gmail.com