More than 3,000 visitors came along to the Family Fiver Day at Warwick Racecourse during the Friday of half term (Friday 24th Feb), helping to raise more than £1K for local charities.
The racecourse teamed up with Morrisons Leamington Community Champion, Alex Pearson and four Warwickshire charities to organise a fun-filled day of free activities and entertainment for kids.
Molly Ollys, Safeline, LWS Shelter and Warwickshire Search and Rescue manned games and activities across the day in the Paddock Pavillion. There was face painting, a tombola with hundreds of prizes, real lizards and snakes that children could hold and stroke, a bucking bronco, dominos, giant Connect 4, an arts and crafts table, giant snakes and ladders and Beat The Buzzer.
It was £5 per adult and kids went free. Olly The Brave – the mascot of the charity, Molly Ollys – was very popular with children and dished out hugs, fist pumps and high-fives.
A total of £1,173.97 was raised on the day, meaning each charity will receive £293.
Gold medal Commonwealth boxer, Lewis Williams visited the Pavillion and took time to learn about each charity and the work they do to help improve people’s lives.
Lewis happily squared up to Olly The Brave and told the Molly Ollys Team that he was grateful to understand how the charity helps children with life-threatening illnesses and that Molly Ollys is doing a great thing.
Also in attendance at the race day were the Mayors of Warwick, Leamington and Whitnash who came along to show their support.
Emma Brayne from Warwick took her two kids and their friends to the event. She said; “Family Fiver Day was great fun. I am really glad we came as we wouldn’t necessarily of thought of having a family day out at the races, but all the activities as well as the races kept us all entertained. We would definitely come back.”
More about Molly Ollys
Molly Ollys was set up following the experiences of Molly over the 5 years she received treatment for kidney cancer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Between 2017 and 2020, the charity funded Birmingham’s first paediatric palliative consultant as there was no such consultant for the region. That position has now become permanent and is currently funded through the NHS.
The charity works alongside the NHS to support projects within the hospitals and the community. One key project was the creation and refurbishment of Magnolia House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This is a safe and non-clinical space where medical teams and families can have important discussions.
The charity is well-known for its therapeutic toy lion, Olly The Brave, which has its own Hickman line and a detachable mane. The soft toy helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. These form part of an Olly The Brave pack which includes a six-part book series. For more info, please visit here
