A SLEEPOVER with a difference in Warwick raised more than £1,500 for a local children’s charity.
Members and leaders of the 10th Leamington St Marks Rainbows reenacted the movie A Night at the Museum by camping out in Warwick’s Market Hall overnight.
The sleepover was in aid of Molly Ollys, which supports children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
The youngsters, all aged between four and seven, spent more than 14 hours at the museum, during which time they were treated to a tour and tucked into pizza and chips before settling down to watch the film Night at the Museum and snuggling up in their sleeping bags for the night.
Rainbows spokesperson Sophie Glennon-Brown, said: “They were all incredibly brave and slept well, especially when for some of them, it was their first ever sleepover experience.
“On the Saturday morning the children awoke bright-eyed and bushy tailed for a brand new adventure. They enjoyed a light breakfast before exploring the museum again.
“The Warwickshire Girlguiding County Commissioner Nicola Lomas visited us on the sleepover before we departed on Saturday morning and helped award everyone with their ‘ I survived a night at the museum’ badge.”
The Rainbows and Brownies who attended the sleepover helped the charity’s mascot Olly the Brave make his Girlguiding Promise and Olly was awarded a Rainbow Girlguiding Promise Badge. Olly also returned the following morning to thank them for all their hard work and dedication in raising funds for Molly Ollys.
Warwick-based Molly Ollys was established following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer and marked its tenth anniversary last year.
The charity supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It helps with emotional support and donates wishes, therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK.
Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “Huge thanks to all the Rainbows and to family and friends for their support sponsoring the children’s sleepover at the museum. Olly the Brave loved meeting all the children on Friday night and being involved in the children’s pledges. They raised a fantastic amount and have helped raise awareness. Big thanks to Julie for organising.”
To support the Night At The Museum Sleepover visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/night-in-a-museum-molly-ollys-wishes
