Rays of Sunshine children’s charity grants wishes for seriously ill children in the UK aged between three and 18 years. The charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) is supporting Rays of Sunshine this year. Members have pulled together to create a dream bedroom for 13-year-old Philip from Ramsgate, Kent, who is living with spinal muscular atrophy – a muscle-wasting disease that affects every part of his body.
Philip is reliant upon an electric wheelchair and a ventilator at night, and is confined to being indoors. He has only recently had his own bedroom, and his wish was to have it decorated and to stay in a hotel during the renovations. Philip’s mum hopes that the new bedroom will give him some much sought-after independence.
The BCFA has inspired its members to go above all expectations to create a new bedroom for Philip. Planning for the project took approximately three months, and the new bedroom was revealed at the end of July.
Philip’s dream bedroom included:
“¢ A motorised desk and an electric blind, both of which programmed so they can be operated from his iPad
“¢ Artwork on his wall, incorporating Lego and Star Wars – Philip’s two favourite things
“¢ New carpet
“¢ Shelves, storage and a wardrobe
“¢ Curtains
“¢ Wallpaper
“¢ Soft furnishings
“¢ Duvets and pillows
“¢ Lamps and lampshades
Carolyn Mitchell, Walker Greenbank and BCFA director, comments: “I have seen the Rays of Sunshine charity grow over the past 10 years, and have admired all the good work they do – granting wishes to children who face enormous health issues, and changing their lives by simply making them smile with the granting of a wish. It is a magical gift.
“It was therefore an obvious connection for me to introduce Rays to the BCFA, knowing that by offering our services, contacts, knowledge and products we could support the charity in their fantastic work. We were not building a hotel, or supplying a project that we were contracted to do – this is simply about granting a child’s wish, and that’s a lovely thing to be part of.
“The essence of the BCFA, for me personally, has always been the strength of our membership and the people within it. This project has demonstrated how wonderfully kind and generous people and their companies have been supporting this initiative, and I am hugely thankful – because without all of this support my task would have been impossible.
“We have worked as an extended community, as competitors and colleagues, clients and supporters, as well as reaching out to new partners, and it has been extremely humbling for us all to be given the chance to make a difference, and to give Philip the bedroom he has always wished for.”
Colin Watson, BCFA MD, adds: “There are many people to thank, including those who offered products and services that we were not able to use this time. Carolyn Mitchell and the Team at Walker Greenbank Contracts for textiles, paint and weeks of time (Zoffany, FR One, Harlequin, Sanderson); Charles Leon and Joumana at CLA – a brilliant design; Portview the amazing contractors Ronan and Glen, who also do gardening and dysoning the carpets; Dixon Turner and their star Alex, paper hanger, plumber and specialist at lots of things; The Fine Bedding Co for the duvet, pillows and mattress protector; Chelsom Lighting; Ulster Carpets; OW hospitality for the carpet fitter Bill Fox at Caps; Silent Gliss, local heroes and magic curtain tracks; Colin Bowden of Bowden Tollitt for the survey, curtain and cushion making and support;
“Moon for the union jack throw; Kinnarps for the electric desk – I want one please; Jameson for the sofa or aka kids trampoline; Standfast and Edmund Bell for textiles; Cliq Design for the quilting; Gary Timpson, sparky; Lego for the Lego; ClicTime for the Lego clock; Phillip Dawson at Rufflette for the TV; David Cumplen at Revival Corporate Cleaning for donating; Hilton Hotels for looking after the family for two days; Domino Pizza for the food – I didn’t get any; Elegant Clutter for the Star Wars artwork – I don’t believe you did that Harry, fab; local company Centrobed, who on seeing it on the TV news provided a new bed;
“And of course the Rays of Sunshine team, Laura, Melissa, Sophie.”
