Imagine This | Supporting Children's Health

Category: News-No-Image

  • We’re reimagining fundraising – and it’s never been easier

    We’re reimagining fundraising – and it’s never been easier

    Spring is here – and it’s the perfect time to fundraise for us

    It's April. The days are longer, the energy's back, and we've got something exciting to share!

    We’ve made it easier than ever to set up your own fundraiser for Imagine This. Whether you’re planning something big and daring or something small and personal, you can now create your own fundraising page in minutes…

    Just head to this link!

    No experience needed. Just pick something you’d enjoy…and go for it.

    Leon is already going for it. In a big way.

    Leon Milns has set himself and his gym buddy one of the most extraordinary fundraising challenges we’ve ever seen. He’s going to lift one million kilograms in a single week – two sessions a day, every day:
    Bench press, 10 sets of 10 reps at 100kg
    Pull ups, 10 sets of 10 reps with a 15g vest (100kg total)
    Deadlifts, 10 sets of 10 reps at 125kg

    Then whatever else until he hits 35000kg each day. His target? £15,000 for Imagine This.

    We’re in awe. And if you’d like to cheer him on – or donate to his challenge…

    You can find his fundraising page here!

    What could you do?

    Inspiration is everywhere this time of year. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

    – A sponsored walk, run, or cycle – spring is made for it
    – A garden party, afternoon tea, or bake sale
    – A personal fitness challenge – steps, miles, or something all your own
    – Giving up something for a month and asking people to sponsor you
    – Doing something completely unique to you – this is the kind of creativity we love

    Whatever you choose, every pound you raise goes towards supporting seriously ill children and their families across the UK.

    How to get started

    Setting up your fundraiser takes just a few minutes….

    Head to this link, create your page, and share it with the people who know you!

    It really is that simple!

    If you’ve got an idea but aren’t sure where to start, drop our fundraise, Penny, an email at fundraising@imaginethis.org.uk – we’d love to help!
  • You helped us fund 100 Bags of Sunshine. Hospitals are already asking for 200 more.

    You helped us fund 100 Bags of Sunshine. Hospitals are already asking for 200 more.

    When we first funded Bags of Sunshine, we weren’t sure what to expect. A bereavement bag, carefully assembled, hand-delivered to parents leaving hospital without their child, felt like a quiet act of kindness that could reach a few families and mean the world to them. It meant the world to more families than we imagined, the demand is ramping up, and now we need your help to reach 200 more.

    Where the first 100 bags went

    Since late 2025, Aimee and Mark Beaumont, Freddie’s mum and dad, have been personally hand-delivering bags to bereavement teams across the North of England: Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey, Salford Royal, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, and Royal Bolton.
    The response has been extraordinary. Hospitals that heard from colleagues about what happened when a bag arrived have been calling to ask for them. There’s a much bigger need than any of us expected!

    Aimee described it as ‘such a strange mix of emotions: being both incredibly proud, and so sad that these are in such demand.’
    “In those darkest moments, the kindness behind these bags offers a gentle reminder that they are not alone, and that others are holding them in their hearts.”

    There’s a story we keep coming back to. A nurse was handing out bags when she met a recently bereaved family. She opened one and found the weighted sloth inside. It stopped her. Because that child had carried a sloth everywhere. It was his spirit animal. The bag felt, in that moment, like it had been made for them.

    We can’t explain that. We just know it matters.

    What goes into every bag

    Nothing in it is an afterthought. Every item was chosen with one purpose: to say we’re still here. We’re still thinking of you.

    – Weighted teddy – £14.79
    – Jute bag (printed and stitched) – £4.92
    – Candle – £4.47
    – Notebook and pen – £4.47
    – Tangle toy – £4.16
    – Cooling eye mask – £4.05
    – Lip balm – £1.14
    – Wildflower seeds – £0.76
    – Info leaflet – £0.59
    – Biscuits – £0.31
    – Fidget ring – £0.24
    – Tissues – £0.20
    – Coffee sachet – £0.13
    – Tea sachet – £0.09
    – Organza bag – £0.09
    A complete bag for one family – £44.50

    Help us fund the next 200

    Our goal is to raise £8,900 to fund 200 new bags. That’s 200 families. 200 moments of kindness. 200 bags sitting ready on a shelf for someone who’s about to need them.

    A complete bag costs £44.50. But anything helps. Every single item in that list started as someone’s £4, or £1, or 76 pence. If you can give something, whatever feels right, you’ll be part of what reaches those families.

    Thank you for caring.

    Donate to Bags of Sunshine

  • Christmas With The Stars 2025: A Night We’ll Never Forget

    Christmas With The Stars 2025: A Night We’ll Never Forget

    On Wednesday 10 December, St Marylebone Parish Church was filled with music, laughter and a shared sense of purpose as Christmas With The Stars returned for an unforgettable evening in support of Imagine This.

    From the moment guests arrived, there was a feeling that this was more than a concert. It was a celebration – of creativity, community, and the power of coming together to support seriously ill children and their families.

     

    An Evening of Music, Storytelling and Joy

    Hosted by Sarah Parish MBE and Jim Murray MBE, the evening brought together an extraordinary group of performers and readers, including David Tennant, Dame Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Richard E Grant, Amanda Holden, Donna Ashworth, and many more – alongside stunning performances from Northants Sings Out, Sylvia Young Theatre School, Scintilla Quartet, and the St Marylebone Parish Church Choir.

    From moments of quiet reflection to joyful, uplifting performances — and a finale that had the entire church on its feet — the atmosphere was electric. The feedback from guests has been overwhelming, with many describing the night as moving, joyful and truly special.

    Watch the Online Replay

    If you weren’t able to join us in person – or if you’d simply love to relive the evening – the full online replay of Christmas With The Stars is now available to watch.

    The replay features multiple camera angles, live audio, and the full programme from start to finish, allowing you to experience the magic of the night from wherever you are in the world.

    From moments of quiet reflection to joyful, uplifting performances – and a finale that had the entire church on its feet – the atmosphere was electric. The feedback from guests has been overwhelming, with many describing the night as moving, joyful and truly special.

    Tickets to the replay are £3, with the option to add a donation of your choice. Every purchase helps us continue our work supporting the mental wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families across the UK.

    Why Your Support Matters

    Imagine This is the only UK charity solely dedicated to the mental wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families. While medical care is often exceptional, emotional and psychological support is still far too limited – leaving many children and families struggling in silence.

    Funds raised through events like Christmas With The Stars help us deliver imaginative, life-changing projects including creative therapies, movement and mindfulness sessions in hospitals, music therapy in neonatal intensive care units, and compassionate bereavement support for families facing the unimaginable.

    The Silent Auction: Still Open (Until 22 December)

    Imagine This is the only UK charity solely dedicated to the mental wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families. While medical care is often exceptional, emotional and psychological support is still far too limited – leaving many children and families struggling in silence.

    Funds raised through events like Christmas With The Stars help us deliver imaginative, life-changing projects including creative therapies, movement and mindfulness sessions in hospitals, music therapy in neonatal intensive care units, and compassionate bereavement support for families facing the unimaginable.

    Be the First to Hear About Our Next Event

    Thank you to everyone who made Christmas With The Stars 2025 so special – from our performers and supporters to every single person who joined us, watched online, bid in the auction or spread the word.

    Together, you’ve helped turn one magical night into lasting impact 💛

  • Heartbreak to Hope: We’ve rebranded to Imagine This to Transform Mental Health Support for Seriously Ill Children and Their Families Across the UK

    Heartbreak to Hope: We’ve rebranded to Imagine This to Transform Mental Health Support for Seriously Ill Children and Their Families Across the UK

    A New Name. A National Mission. The Same Passion.

    We are proud to announce that The Murray Parish Trust has rebranded to Imagine This.  A new name that marks the beginning of a powerful new chapter in our story, and a bold step forward in our mission to support the mental wellbeing of every seriously ill child and their families across the UK.

    Why Imagine This?

    This isn’t just a new name, it’s a new invitation. Imagine This is about empathy and possibility, a reflection of the daily challenges faced by seriously ill children and their families, and a call to reimagine what meaningful support can look like. We deliver imaginative, diverse and impactful projects, helping families cope with the emotional and psychological toll of serious illness

    Right now in the UK, there are over one million seriously ill children. These children and their families are far more likely to experience anxiety, depression and trauma, yet the emotional support available to them is limited.

    1. Nearly 1 in 5 seriously ill children live with anxiety
    2. 1 in 7 experience depression
    3. 1 in 4 mothers of seriously ill children suffer from anxiety or depression
    4. Fathers often report suffering in silence

    The strong focus is on medical treatment and their mental wellbeing is often left behind. The impact on the mental wellbeing of the wider family is also clear, parents and siblings often receive no support. Many parents need to give up work to care for their child – adding to the emotional strain. Many siblings play an active part in the care of their brother or sister.

    Co-founder Sarah Parish MBE explains:

         “Imagine being told your child has a serious illness, and trying to hold your family together while navigating a world focused almost entirely on their medical care.  We know that trauma firsthand, and we know how much more support families need. Without early, meaningful support, the impact on children and their families mental health can last a lifetime. That’s why Imagine This exists: to help ensure no child or family faces the emotional toll of serious illness alone. Our vision is for every seriously ill child and their family to have access to the kind of imaginative, empowering support that helps them navigate their journey with connection, resilience, and hope. This new identity marks our commitment to every one of these children and their families.

    Co-founder Jim Murray MBE says:

    “This isn’t just a name change.  It’s the beginning of a bold, nationwide movement to transform how we support the mental well-being of seriously ill children and their families living through the unimaginable. Our ambition is clear: by 2035, we aim to reach every seriously ill child in the UK bringing imaginative and innovative projects to children in hospitals, hospices, and communities across the UKImagine This is the only UK charity solely dedicated to this urgent need and we’re just getting started.”

    Thank you for standing with us. Let’s build a future together where no seriously ill child and their family faces the unimaginable without the support they need.