How My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity Is Building Sustainable Funding for the Families Who Need It Most
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. Parents, siblings and wider family members all find themselves navigating an incredibly difficult journey, one that is often isolating, emotionally overwhelming and financially challenging.
My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity was founded to ensure that no family has to face that journey alone.
Since its beginnings in 2014, when a group of strangers united to raise an extraordinary £600,000 for a local child named Ruby Laura, the charity has grown from a community campaign into a vital national support network. Today, My Shining Star provides financial and emotional support to children aged 0–18 across the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as their families, including the siblings who are so often overlooked during the treatment process. Bereaved families are also supported, recognising that the charity's care extends beyond the end of treatment.
From those early beginnings, the charity set out to help 10 families. To date, they have supported well over 5,000, a testament to what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
More Than Just a Fundraising Total
As a small, volunteer-led charity, sustainable funding is essential to My Shining Star's ability to continue its work.
Since joining GivingLottery, My Shining Star has raised an impressive £8,700, supported by 25 dedicated lottery players. Even more encouragingly, the charity is on track to raise a further £1,660 this month through regular weekly participation, a sign of just how much momentum is building.
This type of unrestricted income gives the charity the flexibility it needs, allowing them to direct funds where they are most needed, whether that's financial assistance for families, emotional support services, or specialist sibling programmes.
Unlike restricted grants, which are tied to specific projects, unrestricted funding means My Shining Star can respond to the real and changing needs of the families they support.
Small Actions, Lasting Impact
What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is its simplicity.
Twenty-five supporters have chosen a straightforward, low-commitment way to back a cause they care about and those individual contributions have steadily grown into a valuable and reliable source of income for the charity.
There have been no large-scale events, no complex campaigns, and no significant time commitments required. Just a community of supporters, showing up week after week to make a difference.
A Lesson for Other Good Causes
My Shining Star's story demonstrates that sustainable fundraising doesn't have to be complicated.
With the right tools and a committed group of supporters, regular income can grow steadily over time, allowing charities to focus less on fundraising pressures and more on delivering their mission. For a volunteer-led organisation supporting families through some of the hardest moments imaginable, that freedom is invaluable.
For charities, schools and community organisations looking for a simple, cost-free way to generate unrestricted funding, My Shining Star is proof that small, consistent contributions can create a lasting and meaningful impact.
How You Can Help
Every family supported by My Shining Star is navigating one of life's most difficult experiences. By playing our GivingLottery and choosing to support My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity, you can help provide the regular, unrestricted funding that makes their vital work possible.
For just £1 per week, you'll be supporting the charity's work with children and families affected by cancer across the UK, while also being entered into weekly prize draws to win up to £25,000.
It's a simple way to make a difference, helping ensure that more families receive the financial and emotional support they deserve throughout their cancer journey and beyond.
About the author
Michelle Logli
Michelle supports the team with all aspects of administration and manages some of our social media platforms. With a background in healthcare, Michelle has a passion for helping others.