12 Nov Essex-based Charity The Dream Factory make more dreams come true for local children and young adults
The Dream Factory is an Essex-based charity established 11 years ago to brighten the lives and encourage hope for children and young adults aged 3-25 years, who have either life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, or who suffer from severe disabilities. They do this by granting their dreams and making their wishes come true and aim to do everything possible to grant a child’s dream, whether it’s to meet their favourite celebrity or sporting hero, to live the lifestyle of a millionaire for a day, or to own a laptop or the latest mobile phone. Perhaps they wish to take a magical trip to Lapland or Euro Disney or to be a princess for the day. Any dream is possible and when The Dream Factory says it will take on the challenge of making a dream come true, they will then do everything in their power to make it happen in the shortest possible time. No wish is too small and with help from you, The Dream Factory can make their dreams come true! Over 471 dreams have now been granted since it started in 2008!
The Dream Factory has been created by Avril Mills BEM, who set up the Charity in 2008, in memory of her son Oliver Mills who died of Leukaemia at the age of nine. Avril herself grew up in Clayhall and moved to Epping in 1983 and her children Emma, Oliver and Josh went to Epping Uplands School. Sadly, Oliver was diagnosed in 1990 with Leukaemia and was treated at three London Hospitals – Barts, The London and Great Ormond Street. At the beginning of January 2008. The Dream Factory was itself a dream, Avril knew what she wanted to do and was prepared to work hard to make it happen. While Oliver, a big EastEnders fan, was having treatment in hospital, Avril arranged for him to meet Ross Kemp, Martine McCutcheon and Sid Owen. Liking the idea, she went onto make a wish for another child who had always wanted to meet the Arsenal Team. Before Oliver died, he expressed the wish to grant dreams for children when he grew up and so The Dream Factory began……. Avril was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2014 for her services to children and young adults.
Most of the fundraising events organised by the Charity are in Essex with the next one being a Pre-Christmas Ladies Lunch on Thursday 28 November 2019 at the fabulous Lokkum Bar & Grill, South Woodford. The afternoon includes live musical entertainment kindly provided by Martin Bell and one of the Charity’s Patrons: Lydia Lucy and is already fully booked! There is also the Annual Children’s Party this month at The Marriott Hotel, Waltham Abbey who have kindly donated the venue and food for us this year.
The Charity has something a little different for its Annual Christmas Fundraising – a virtual Christmas Tree! Rather than send a Christmas card to friends and family this year, switch on a light, hang a bauble or buy a present for The Dream Factory Virtual Christmas Tree and send the link to family and friends wishing them a Merry Christmas. Not only will your friends and family enjoy the message, but you will feel great knowing that you have helped brighten the life and encourage hope in someone that is suffering and make everlasting memories for their families.
Your donation can be as big or as little as you want it to be and can be made by visiting The Dream Factory Virtual Tree here: https://visufund.co.uk/the-dream-factory Help us to help others and put a smile on someone’s face this Christmas! We would love to reach our virtual Christmas Tree target of £5000!
As well as The Official Dream Factory Christmas Tree for personal donations, it is also possible for your Company or Team to have their own Dream Factory Virtual Christmas Tree (at no cost to your Company/Team). The team at The Dream Factory can easily arrange for you to have your own tree with all donations donated to The Dream Factory. The process is very easy and simply involves us sending a link to you via email, with your virtual tree being linked directly to The Dream Factory for any donations that are made. For further information, please contact The Dream Factory Team on Tel: 0208 501 1234 or Email: [email protected]
