Essex Charity The Dream Factory have been busy raising funds to help make more dreams come true
The Dream Factory grants dreams to children and young adults between the age of 3 to 25 years, who suffer from life-threatening, life-limiting conditions or have severe disabilities and to date has granted over 507 dreams! The pandemic has hit the Charity hard, but The Dream Factory are determined to keep making more dreams come true and the last month has seen some amazing fund-raising events happening!
Sponsored Mile with Thomas Fairchild Community School in North London
At the end of June, one of the charity’s Ambassadors Hope and her School – Thomas Fairchild Community School (Forston Street, London N1) took part in a sponsored mile to raise money for The Dream Factory as part of their highly successful Kids Helping Kids Campaign.
The Kids Helping Kids 2021 Campaign aims to inspire children and young adults across the country to make a positive difference to other children who are not as fortunate as themselves, helping those that have life threatening or severe disabilities.
Through the Campaign, the Charity is encouraging children and young adults to help make dreams come true by hosting their own fundraising event, activity or challenge.
Hope, a Dream Factory Ambassador, had a dream granted in 2017 with a wonderful visit to Disneyland Paris, and has since supported The Dream Factory for many years. Her Granddad’s home-made burger recipe features in The Dream Factory Charity Cookbook which has been an amazing success. Hope who suffers with Glutaric Aciduria Type 1, encouraged her whole school to take part in The Dream Factory’s “Kids Helping Kids Campaign” event and they raised over £1500 – which is amazing !
Miss Haider, Head Teacher, Tomas Fairchild Community School said of the event.
“We are very pleased that so far over £1,000 has been raised for the charity. The overall amount seems likely to increase as we are still receiving donations. This is an absolutely fantastic achievement and we want to thank Hope, her family, Dream Factory staff and our school community in their contribution to such a successful outcome.
It has been the perfect project to raise spirits after the turbulent year we have all had and demonstrates what can be achieved when communities work collaboratively. As a school we are celebrating this proud moment and applauding our children for taking part in the sponsored run which has helped us all get fit as well as raise money for such a great cause.”
5k Whizzing Wheelchairs Challenge in Redbridge
Also at the end of June, nine inspiring wheelchair user’s and many volunteer roller skaters took to the challenge and raced around the beautiful track at Redbridge Cycling Centre raising over £7000 for The Dream Factory and Wheels and Wheelchairs charities. This unique event, the first of its kind and was attend by the Charity’s Patrons, Anne Wafula-Strike MBE, British Wheelchair Paralympian, former British Super Middleweight boxer Michael Watson MBE and former British Featherweight and Commonwealth Boxer Colin McMillan BEM. This fabulous event was in collaboration with The Wheels and Wheelchairs Charity, who are a group of wheelchair users and skaters who regularly go out in London parks together, enjoying the sensory rush of speed.
The event happened as a result of the Charity’s wonderful Ambassador Isaac Harvey, who is also President of the Wheels and Wheelchairs Charity and peer facilitator at One Place East in Redbridge, working with people with disabilities and mental health conditions. He suggested the two charities work together and was a great help planning the event – he also took part and fundraised, along with other Dream Factory Ambassadors.
Avril Mills, Founder and Trustee of The Dream Factory said,
“We want to thank everyone who supported, donated and volunteered to make this event a huge success – it was amazing!”
Dream Factory Patron Harry Redknapp plays at Abridge Golf Club’s Charity Golf Day
Many of the golf days that raise lots of money for The Dream Factory have had to be cancelled in the last 18 months due to COVID-19, and this has had a big impact on the fundraising for the Charity. However, it was lovely to have the first of two golf days raising money for The Dream Factory to take place at the beginning of July at the Abridge Golf Club. The day was organised by The Ladies Section of the Club and saw over 90 men and women playing golf, enjoying a lovely dinner, auction and presentation. Harry Redknapp who is a long standing Patron of The Dream Factory, drove himself all the way from Sandbanks to play. Playing with Harry Redknapp was 24 year old Ambassador of The Dream Factory, Josh Mills. Harry signed a football and shirt to also raise funds on the night, with all proceeds for the event going to The Dream Factory, and a good day and evening was had by all. The second Charity Golf Day at Abridge Golf Club is on 27 July for Ladies only.
Avril Mills BEM, Founder and Trustee of The Dream Factory said,
“We would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in giving their time and donations to this great event. We are extremely grateful to Harry for his continued support for The Dream Factory.”
