# Olly Murs helps Rays of Sunshine grant 9,000th wish, & more celeb news

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/08/19/olly-murs-helps-rays-of-sunshine-grant-9000th-wish-more-celeb-news/
- Published: 2024-08-19T09:15:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Olly Murs, Lily James and Dara Ó Briain are among the celebrities to have recently
shown their support for good causes in a variety of ways. More below.**

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/olly-murs-2-1.jpeg)

#### Rays of Sunshine grants 9,000 wish in 21 years with help from The Fragrance Shop and ambassador Olly Murs

[Rays of Sunshine](https://raysofsunshine.org.uk/) has granted its 9,000 wish in
21 years – a meet and greet with Olly Murs for 18-year-old Sanna.  

The wish was delivered with support from The Fragrance Shop, a longstanding corporate
partner of Rays of Sunshine. Sanna is currently on the transplant list and undergoing
treatment for end-stage kidney failure, and was invited to The Fragrance Shop’s 
high-tech FQ (Fragrance Quarters) in Manchester alongside Olly, for a day of pampering
and photography. Passionate about her photography studies, after a Q&A, and from
behind the camera, Sanna directed Olly to strike some poses – resulting in some 
pictures which she can use for her professional portfolio.  

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/BBTB-Hero.jpeg)

#### Comedy stars raise £28,000 at Underbelly’s sixth annual Big Brain Tumour Benefit

This brings the total raised for [The Brain Tumour Charity](https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/)
over the years to over £138,000.This year’s show took place on 13 August with Irish
comedy legend Dara Ó Briain, King of the one-liners Milton Jones, Kiwi Edinburgh
Comedy Award Winner and tv actress Rose Matafeo, UK tv star and stand-up comedian
Angela Barnes, 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show nominee and BBC Radio 4’s Ian
Smith, Indian comedy super star Kanan Gill, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Amy Gledhill,
and Fringe favourite Carl Donnelly as MC.

The show was created by Underbelly in 2017 following the diagnosis of an aggressive
and rare form of brain cancer in Alfie Bartlam, the son of Underbelly’s co-founder
Ed Bartlam. All money raised goes to the charity.

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/LFC-Foundation-2.jpg)

#### Stefan Bajcetic and Vitezslav Jaros make surprise visit to LFC Foundation Inclusion Camp

LFC men’s first team players Stefan Bajcetic and Vitezslav Jaros surprised[ LFC Foundation](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/foundation)
participants last week when they visited the Kicks Inclusion Camp at Anfield Sports
and Community Centre (ASCC). The Kicks Inclusion Camp, which is supported by the
Premier League and Steve Morgan Foundation, is run throughout the year providing
free sports activities for children, young people and adults with additional learning,
behaviour, physical and sensory needs across the Liverpool City region.

The session saw members take part in a range of football drills and activities within
their age groups, before Bajcetic and Jaros arrived to surprise them. Both players
spent time meeting the participants, watching the sessions and getting involved,
while also sharing their footballing tips, signing autographs and posing for photos.

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/John-Wilson-.jpg)

#### Conductor John Wilson joins Help Musicians as official Ambassador

Conductor John Wilson has joined [Help Musicians](https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/)
as an ambassador with the charity saying that he will help them inspire more musicians
in future to continue their journey to forge a career in music.

He joins Bryan Adams, Abel Selaocoe, Chris Difford, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Sir Simon
Rattle and more as a champion of the charity’s impact on musicians in the UK. A 
Gateshead-native, Wilson studied composition and conducting at the Royal College
of Music before forging his career. For many years, he performed regularly both 
in the UK and abroad with the John Wilson Orchestra and in 2018 he relaunched the
Sinfonia of London with whom he is now performing regularly across the UK.

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/unnamed-7.jpg)

#### Tony Cottee appointed as Honorary Patron of MND charity

[Challenging MND](http://www.challengingmnd.org/) has announced the appointment 
of Tony Cottee, former professional footballer and sports broadcaster, as its new
Honorary Patron. The charity says that appointment marks a significant step in its
mission to raise awareness and funds for those affected by Motor Neurone Disease(
MND). As Honorary Patron, Cottee will participate in various awareness campaigns,
fundraising events, and advocacy efforts aimed at supporting those living with MND
and their supporting network.

Tony Cottee’s career in football saw him score over 200 goals scored during his 
time at clubs like West Ham United, Everton, and Leicester City, as well as representing
England at the international level. He is also sports commentator and analyst. His
understanding of the physical demands placed on athletes and empathy for those who
face life-altering health challenges have inspired him to join the fight against
MND.

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![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/08/Lily-James-at-Elewana-Loisaba-Lodo-
Springs-Kenya-with-Space-for-Giants-3.jpg)

#### Lily James becomes Global Supporter for Space for Giants

To help bolster conservation efforts in Africa, Lily James has joined [Space for Giants ](https://www.spaceforgiants.org/)
as a Global Supporter.  During a recent visit to Kenya, she witnessed firsthand 
the organisation’s work, saying:_ “I am truly honoured to be a Space for Giants 
Global Supporter and help to achieve their goals to protect Africa’s remaining natural
ecosystems and populations of large wild animals they contain, and the people who
depend on the land.”_

_“Earlier this year, I had the privilege of visiting some of the critical wild refuges
that have been restored and protected by Space for Giants in Kenya. With more than
90% of Africa’s 8,400 protected landscapes without funding and many natural ecosystems
without any protection at all in the face of huge human pressures, wild animals 
such as elephants, rhinos and big cats are in huge trouble. The work that Space 
for Giants does is, therefore, more important than ever.”_

 * **[Ewan McGregor raises £135K for CHAS through whisky auction, plus more celeb charity support](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/10/14/ewan-mcgregor-raises-135k-for-chas-through-whisky-auction-plus-more-celeb-charity-support/)**(
   14 October 2024)
 * **[Stars turn out in force to launch Christmas Jumper Day, & more celebrity charity support news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/11/07/stars-turn-out-in-force-to-launch-christmas-jumper-day-more-celebrity-charity-support-news/)**(
   7 November 2024)
 * **[Richard E. Grant cuts ribbon for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, plus more celeb news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/11/15/richard-e-grant-cuts-ribbon-for-the-royal-marsden-cancer-charity-plus-more-celeb-news/)**(
   15 November 2024)
