It is working together with brainstrust to provide financial and emotional support to families and carers of children undergoing treatment for a brain tumour. The partnership will also mean that Smiley Riley Fund UK can focus on fundraising while brainstrust manages the funds raised.
Smiley Riley Fund UK was set up in 2012 to raise money to send brain tumour sufferer Riley Plant on his dream holiday. After Riley’s death last September, the charity has continued to raise funds for affected families.
Working with brainstrust, which already offers a national support service for brain tumour patients, will give Smiley Riley Fund UK the ability to help more families throughout the UK. Brainstrust is a brain cancer charity dedicated to improving clinical care for brain tumour sufferers and providing coordinated support in their search for treatment.
Simone Potter, founder of Smiley Riley Fund UK and grandmother of Riley Plant, said: “As charities we both have experience of battling brain tumours and we believe that by working together we can help more families and provide a greater legacy for Riley.”
Will Jones, development director at brainstrust, added: “We were deeply moved by Riley’s story and want to help create a fantastic legacy for the little boy. Smiley Riley has demonstrated fantastic ambition in the past year and as they do more and continue to grow, we will work hard to support them in the administration of the funds, and help them reach more brain tumour patients and carers.”
The ultimate objective of the brainstrust and Smiley Riley Fund UK partnership is to launch a national service that can offer coordinated information, and emotional and financial support to parents and carers of children suffering from brain tumours.
Smiley Riley Fund UK’s has invited 13,000 York schoolchildren and their families to a Run and Fun Day event at Mille Crux Fields in York on 28th April. To find out how to get involved, visit the Smiley Riley website.