200K donations in a few months helps grant the wishes of seriously ill children like Samuel

One of the reasons why Pennies is popular with retailers is because it allows their customers to join in with raising funds for a charity partner, making them feel good about shopping in their stores.

Towards the end of last year The Fragrance Shop launched their ‘Spray a little happiness campaign’, promising to donate 5p for every transaction made in their stores to Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity. Pennies enables them to offer their card paying customers the choice to match that 5p, something customers were quick to do so when given the opportunity.

In just a matter of months, they have already pressed ‘Yes’ a jaw dropping 200,000 times, raising £12,000 to help the charity grant wishes to seriously and terminally ill children.

This money will go towards helping young people like Samuel, 11, have their greatest wishes granted. Samuel is living with Cystic Fibrosis and, despite the condition, he is an active child who loves gymnastics and has a passion for music. His wishes were to either meet his idol Olly Murs or to perform on a stage.

Rays of Sunshine arranged for Samuel to spend a day of sight-seeing around London with his mum, sister and aunty, followed by a night at a Hilton Hotel. The next day he got taken to Wembley Arena to see Olly Murs rehearse in advance of his evening concert. But a bigger surprise was awaiting him! During the sound check, Olly invited Samuel up on stage to perform his hit ‘Dance with me Tonight’ to an excited audience of other seriously ill children, fulfilling his wish to perform on stage.

“We were thrilled to be able to fulfil Samuel’s wish. He was a wonderful performer, completely confident and had the audience totally captivated,” said CEO of Rays of Sunshine Jane Sharpe. “We hope to see Samuel perform again one day!”

Being able to grant wishes like these brings joy and excitement to children and their families, who have a chance to do something they’ve only ever dreamt of before. Wishes like Samuel’s cost around £1000 to fulfil, whilst others can cost anything between £500 and £6000. Now thanks to the generosity of their customers, pennies donated through The Fragrance Shop are able to make an enormous difference to children whose lives might be dominated by time spent in hospital or feeling very ill.