Celebrating One Year (back) with the Rays of Sunshine family!

Today marks one year since I rejoined the incredible Rays of Sunshine family, and what a year it has been! Being part of this special charity has reminded me of the extraordinary impact we have on seriously and terminally ill children and their families. From granting magical wishes to creating joyful moments at community events and hospital days, being part of this mission to spread sunshine means so much to me.

This morning, as my colleagues celebrated my anniversary over Teams, I took a moment to reflect on the past year.

Returning to Rays of Sunshine came at the perfect time for me. I had always said I would be a part of its work again one day, and when the opportunity came, I rose to the challenge. Like many charities, we were still very much feeling the effects of COVID and the cost-of-living crisis. There was clearly a lot of work to do—but I do love a challenge!

As I reflect its important to me to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our (small but mighty) team over the past 12 months:

• Strategic Growth: We launched a new fundraising and communications strategy, strengthening and repositioning our brand, building a robust pipeline, recruiting new talent, and improving how we steward and engage with supporters.
• Record-breaking Fundraising: Our Gala Dinner raised a record-breaking £1 million and secured the largest six-figure donation in our history. We’re also on track to exceed our year-end income goals!
• Exciting Partnerships: We’ve secured exciting new partnerships with ICAP Charity Day, the John Terry Foundation, ATG, and Hill Dickinson, while reinvigorating relationships with The Fragrance Shop, Smyths Toys Superstore, Bacta, and many more.
• Milestones in Wish Granting: We granted our 9,000th wish, in partnership with Olly Murs and The Fragrance Shop, for a young girl named Sanna—a truly magical moment to share in her joy and to see her grow in confidence.
• Creative Innovation: We refreshed our branding, marketing collateral and website and even unveiled a branded taxi to better represent our mission.
• Digital Excellence: We expanded our reach and upskilled with a focus on paid social campaigns and Google Ads and launched exciting firsts, like the Daz Black Gameathon and our Amazon Business gift list Christmas Toy Appeal.
• Ambassadors and Volunteers: We've reestablished relationships with celebrities and wish ambassadors and brought on new volunteers and interns to support our growing mission.

These accomplishments highlight the strength, creativity, and dedication of the Rays of Sunshine team, who work tirelessly to make a difference. Of course, the year hasn’t been without its challenges—working as part of a small team often leaves little downtime—but the results speak volumes about the power of teamwork and determination. Thank you team for smashing this last year alongside me.

As I reflect on this journey, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. We’ve accomplished so much together, yet there’s so much more to do. Here’s to another year of spreading sunshine and creating magical memories for those who need them most.

#Teamwork #Charity #Celebration #RaysOfSunshine #Gratitude