The Magic Wand - July 2014

Who have you helped and

Fundraising Stories

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Magic Wand The

The Magic Wand - July 2014

Taking the Magic to the

Children has wheels! Merlin’s Magic Wand has unveiled a Merlin’s Magic Wand has unveiled a Merlin’s Magic Wand has unveiled a Merlin’s Magic Wand has unveiled a specially adapted bus that is set to specially adapted bus that is set to specially adapted bus that is set to specially adapted bus that is set to transform the lives of the children of transform the lives of the children of transform the lives of the children of transform the lives of the children of Brian House Hospice. Brian House Hospice. Brian House Hospice. Brian House Hospice. Mascots from The Blackpool Tower, Madame Tussauds Blackpool and SEA LIFE Blackpool presented the bus to hospice sta- and the excited children and their family members on Tuesday 22nd July.

The production costs of the specially designed

carrier totalled over £50k, with the vehicle be-

ing fitted with interactive features, including a

DVD player, LED interchangeable lights and a

Star Cloth in the hope of creating special and memorable experiences for patients.

Brian House is a specialist unit within Trinity Hospice, specialising in

palliative care for children, whilst giving their families much needed

respite.

Iain Hawkins, Head of the Blackpool Cluster, said: “We think Merlin’s

Magic Bus is a fantastic investment, and is a great way to start our

partnership and relationship with Brian House. This hospice provides a

much-needed service daily and this bus will now enable them to o-er new, memorable experiences for the children.”

Linzi Young, Head of Fundraising for Trinity Hospice, said: “Merlin’s

Magic Bus will help us to provide special days out to places we wouldn’t

ordinarily have been able to take the children to. We’re so thankful to Merlin’s Magic Wand charity for making it happen and to Merlin Enter-

tainments for the experiences we all have ahead.”

Having the bus means that wheelchair-bound children are now able to

go on days out with their friends instead of travelling in a separate taxi.

After the unveiling, Merlin’s Magic Bus took the children for a fun day

out at The Blackpool Tower, with Merlin o-ering the hospice’s sta- and

children the opportunity to visit its attractions for free.

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Who have YOU helped? The Magic Wand - July 2014

This is 5 year old Acaica Rivers, enjoying a magical day out at SEA SEA SEA SEA LIFE MooloolabaLIFE MooloolabaLIFE MooloolabaLIFE Mooloolaba....

Acaica recently lost her mother, and is now living with her Aunty Tara. Unfortunately, Tara has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, meaning she has only 12 months left to live.

This is a di=cult time for Acaica, but she had a wonderful day at SEA LIFE Mooloolaba with her Aunty and cousins, making magi-cal memories together.

Ben is 9 years old and is slowly losing his sight due to issues experienced during birth.

Ben and his family are now on a race against time to give him as many experi-

ences as they can before he goes complete-ly blind.

Merlin’s Magic Wand helped with this by giving Ben and his family a magical day out at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort WorthWorthWorthWorth and SEA LIFE GrapevineSEA LIFE GrapevineSEA LIFE GrapevineSEA LIFE Grapevine. After expe-

riencing the aquarium, Ben was invited backstage with one of the aquarists to

meet Eddie the turtle.

Ben and his family then went to LEGOLAND Discovery Center where they met the Mas-

ter Model Builder. Ben’s visit was a huge success and he will have magical memories

that will last far beyond his blindness.

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Fundraising Success! The Magic Wand - July 2014

Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds Madame Tussauds Hollywood Hollywood Hollywood Hollywood celebrated their Marvel 4D Grand Opening Party with their first ever Silent Auction.

In total the attraction raised $3,080 with all proceeds benefitting Merlin’s Magic Wand.

Congratulations to the 3 Peaks Chal-lenge Team from Chessington World Chessington World Chessington World Chessington World of Adventures Resortof Adventures Resortof Adventures Resortof Adventures Resort! They have raised a huge amount of money for Merlin's Magic Wand after complet-ing their challenge.

Julia Foggo, Profit Protection Man-ager tells their story: “We did a small walk in aid of Merlin’s Magic Wand and it was EPIC! 3 mountains within 24 hours was a tough yet very re-warding challenge for us all and we loved it, we all in fact are relishing the next one. Stunning views, great company and no major injuries al-lowed us to have an experience of a lifetime. We have raised £1,556.86

so far for Merlin’s Magic Wand and we would love to get it a little higher so please keep donating to this great cause www.justgiving.com/chessie3peaks and help us reach our target!”

The Customer Services department at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort LEGOLAND Windsor Resort LEGOLAND Windsor Resort LEGOLAND Windsor Resort held a Bake Sale for Merlin’s Magic Wand and raised a scrumptious £167.31!

Congratulations to our team of Night-riders! They raised a huge amount of money riding 100km around London. Well done to Leah Morgan, Oliver Eli-

as, Sarah Law-rence, Jason Law-rence, Mark All-sop, Rebecca Har-binson, Sarah Child, Tom Cot-ton, Mark Rob-bers and Richard Catt.

Is there an opening Is there an opening Is there an opening Is there an opening party at your attrac-party at your attrac-party at your attrac-party at your attrac-tion? Could you use it tion? Could you use it tion? Could you use it tion? Could you use it

to fundraise? to fundraise? to fundraise? to fundraise?

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It’s a Kind

of Magic! Merlin’s Magic Wand Day is coming!Merlin’s Magic Wand Day is coming!Merlin’s Magic Wand Day is coming!Merlin’s Magic Wand Day is coming! This year we want to really celebrate the magic that we bring to seriously ill, disabled and disadvantaged children.

The incredible fundraising that you do for Merlin’s Magic Wand has helped thousands of children by providing travel grants to families and groups and funding Taking the Magic to the Children projects.

To celebrate the magic, we are making a music video like no other! We are inviting you to mime along (with air guitar!) to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ by Queen and submit your footage to be featured in the final video, which will premiere to all of Merlin Entertainments on Friday 5th September.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p_1QSUsbsM

Be as creative as you can be, involve all employees at your attraction, children you have helped, Taking the Magic to the Children projects, your imagination is the only limit!

Videos will need to be submitted by 22nd August, and uploaded via the following link: http://www.themerlinway.com/mmw_upload.html

Please note that video files to be uploaded must be less than 1gb in total file size. If you are featuring children or guests in your video, please ensure that they have signed the consent form. Get in touch with Sarah Ford if you have any questions!

Merlin’s Magic

Wand Day 2014 “It’s a Kind of Magic”

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League Tables This table shows fundraising by Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction

as at 16th July 2014

Total so far: £125,040Total so far: £125,040Total so far: £125,040Total so far: £125,040

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League Tables This table shows fundraising by Guest Guest Guest Guest as at 16th July 2014. This is calculated by dividing the fundraising by

the number of guests

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League Tables Tickets distributed

This table shows how many tickets were given out by Merlin’s Merlin Wand by Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction as at 16th July 2014

The total so far is a recordThe total so far is a recordThe total so far is a recordThe total so far is a record----breaking 40,480 tickets breaking 40,480 tickets breaking 40,480 tickets breaking 40,480 tickets ---- more than we have ever given out before! more than we have ever given out before! more than we have ever given out before! more than we have ever given out before!

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The Magic Wand - July 2014