A children’s charity received £2,133 from a bucket collection held by the cast of West End comedy ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’.
The Mischief Theatre Company’s actors, still wearing their costumes, collected donations for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity during one weekend of shows at the Duchess Theatre in February.
Company manager Rachel Williams said: “We are delighted to have held such a successful weekend of bucket collections for Rainbow Trust.
“It’s such a great opportunity for people to have some fun while raising awareness for such a worthy cause.”
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports the families of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
The Evans family, from Mortlake, know well the difference that makes this help when facing a life-changing moment.
Currently, their two-old-year son Kitt is recovering from cancer and the family support worker Angie, from the Rainbow Trust Children’s West London Care Team, is helping the whole family to deal with Kitt’s illness.
Family support worker Angie also helped Kitt’s 11-year-old brother Rory to deal with his emotions.
Saethryd Evans, Kitt and Rory’s mother, said: “Having Angie there as an adult who Rory can talk to, to trust with his thoughts and worries and just to have fun with, has made a big difference to him.
“It made him realise there are other people in similar situations and people that care and want to support us.
“This year has opened our eyes to the intense toll that serious childhood illnesses, like cancer, has on the whole family, emotionally and financially.
“The exhaustion, stress and the relentlessness of going through it cannot be underestimated and the simplest thing of having access to someone like Angie to support and help us who expects nothing in return, is invaluable.’
These family support workers do not just listen to their fears and anxieties, but accompany them to the hospital appointments, organise activities to support the siblings and stay with the seriously ill child at the hospital during their visits.
Oonagh Goodman, director of fundraising and marketing at the charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful that Mischief Theatre Company held such a fantastic event to help Rainbow Trust fund vital support for families with a seriously ill child.
“The money raised from the event will help Rainbow Trust to support families, giving them time when it matters more than ever.
“Fundraisers such as these, along with Rainbow Trust’s partnerships with companies and individual supporters and volunteers, are crucial to our existence because the more funds we receive, the more Family Support Workers we can employ to help families who have a child with a life threatening illness.”
Mrs Goodman said that the charity only receives 3% funding from the government, so are constantly looking for fundraising to employ more family support workers to help families.
Last year, the charity supported over 2,300 families through its nine team care centres located across England in the north east, Greater Manchester, Lancaster, Swindon, west London, Central London, Essex, Southampton and Surrey.
