Children’s charity founder named ‘Most Inspirational Individual’ during community awards ceremony

A Warwick mum who founded a local charity in her late daughter's name has become the first recipient of a new award recognising outstanding personal achievement.

Rachel Ollerenshaw, of Molly Ollys, received The Inspirational Individual Award – Person of the Year – the only individual category at the inaugural Coventry and Warwickshire Business and Community Awards.

Rachel established the children’s charity with husband Tim in 2011, following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

It works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing.

As well as providing more than 4,300 wishes to date, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

Olly The Brave is a therapeutic toy that helps children understand their treatment journey.

Along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series, stock the lion and books now been handed out to more than 70 hospitals or health centres to distribute to children undergoing treatment.

Olly has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy.

Part of more than £5m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first consultant in paediatric palliative medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and pay for the training of a further two consultants.

The awards were hosted by the Belgrade Theatre and organised by Coventry And Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Rachel’s award was presented by His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Louise Bennett, and Tom Mongan, immediate past president of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Rachel said: “It is very humbling to be recognised in this way, especially amongst the incredible group of people nominated.

“My inspiration comes from the children that we support, who face their challenges head on and deal with so much at such a tender age with a maturity and wisdom that we can often learn a lot from.

“I am incredibly lucky to be supported by a very caring and dedicated team, together we all feel very privileged to be able to help children and families and, thanks to our donors, we can keep helping and finding ways to improve the services available.

“Thank you to everyone who nominated me. We all had a great night at the Awards and loved meeting more people from our local community and learning more about what is happening around us.”

Click here to find out more about the work of Molly Ollys or how you can help or donate.