Disney

To create Moments that Matter for over 100 families of children’s hospices across the UK, Disney held a Festive Celebration at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. The children enjoyed a sensory journey in the enchanted forest, meeting Anna and Elsa from Frozen II, made real snow with Mickey and Minnie Mouse in their festive jumpers outside the gingerbread house, and took on the carnival crane machine to rescue the Aliens with Woody and Jessie.

Families created memories together that they will cherish forever, like mum Jo who attended with her daughters. “My girls had a truly amazing time and it felt like we were actually in Disneyland,” Jo said. “This is the first time we have been fortunate to attend such an amazing event and we’ve got some wonderful memories and some fantastic gifts.’”

For the first time ever, at the Frozen II Premiere, we asked the children’s hospices to nominate their amazing staff as their ‘Moment Makers’, for all the fantastic work they do to support the families in their care. Our ‘Moment Makers’ and their families were invited to a VIP drinks reception before walking the red carpet and meeting talent from the film and real-life reindeer, truly creating magical memories to cherish together.

And as part of the Frozen II campaign, M&S collaborated with Disney in supporting our work, and raised funds through the in-store partnership such as creating a Frozen II limited edition tote bag where all profits were donated to our National Fundraising Scheme that raises money for children’s hospices across the UK.

Raising awareness and creating moments that matter

The launch of Frozen II was just the latest opportunity that the partnership had to create Moments that Matter for seriously ill children and those closest to them. For example, in 2017 the launch of Olaf’s Frozen Adventure saw Disney put on themed Frozen parties in 42 children’s hospices across the country. And during Children’s Hospice Week in 2018, Disney delivered extra special parties at four hospices around the UK, with special Disney guests including Mr and Mrs Incredible, Tinkerbell and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 2018 also saw Mickey Mouse celebrate his 90th anniversary, and as part of the celebrations three families supported by Together for Short Lives joined some of the world’s most famous faces in a new photo book ‘Mickey Mouse & Me’ by celebrity photographer Rankin.

Fundraising

In addition to directly creating magical experiences for children and those that support them, over the last two years Disney has also helped us raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to support both the work of Together for Short Lives and children’s hospices around the country. In 2017 to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Disney named Together for Short Lives as the beneficiary of an auction of limited edition Star Wars themed bank notes, and it also partnered with Santander on its Force for Good campaign, which encouraged members of the public to recreate their favourite scenes from the Star Wars franchise – and for each film shared Santander made a charitable donation. Between them this activity raised over £300,000 which we distributed to children’s hospices across the UK, which equates to more than 12,500 hours of specialist hospice care.

And to celebrate the launch of Toy Story 4, in 2019, Disney inspired eBay and YouTube star LadBaby to send Buzz Lightyear into space in a weather balloon, and then auction him on eBay to raise money for children’s hospices. Buzz was sold for £1,580, and eBay who originally pledged to match the closing bid, extended their generous donation to £10,000.

Disney has also supported Together for Short Lives to put on special fundraising balls, using the power of its storytelling to transport guests into immersive experiences. This year we put on a Frozen II Ball, and in 2018 a ‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ experience. Between them these events have raised over £750,000 which will enable us to continue our work to support and help families make the most of every moment together.

Thank you Disney for all your support.