A Nottingham developer who is harnessing the magic of Disney to help grant the wishes of dozens of seriously ill children is urging business to do more to help.
Nottingham-based charity, When You Wish Upon A Star has officially reopened its Disney Wish Programme bolstered by a huge donation from independent developer ALB Giving.
The firm pledged £30,000 to the initiative, match-funding the charity’s own fundraising and doubling its impact. ALB is now imploring fellow businesses to follow suit.
Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Giving, said:
“The work of this amazing charity is really something special. Seeing the joy that granting wishes brings is both humbling and inspiring.
“Nottingham has some exceptional businesses and entrepreneurs. If the business community can come together to support these children and young people in their health battles by bringing a little happiness and magic to their journey, then I would implore them to do so, especially as Christmas approaches.”
The charity says more than 130,000 children across the UK are eligible for a wish. Support from businesses, communities and individuals is essential to create bespoke experiences for children living with illnesses that threaten their lives.
Joe Williamson, CEO, of When You Wish Upon a Star, said:
“In the past 12 months, ALB Giving has match funded 10 Disney Wishes which has enabled us to grant 20 magical trips to Disney. The impact of this for the recipients is immeasurable.”
Ten Disney trips have already taken place, with another 10 scheduled for November and December. Martha and her family, who took one of the trips in May, described what the experience meant to them.
Martha was two when her family received the devastating news in 2024 that she had a tumour in her stomach. She underwent a seven-hour operation followed by four weeks of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Another 27 weeks of chemotherapy followed. In April this year, she rang the bell to mark the end of her treatment.
The impact of her Disney wish being granted and the experience of the trip ricocheted through her family.
They explained:
“It surpassed every expectation, hope or dream. It was just the purest, most real form of magic in the world.
“Seeing Martha’s face light up when she saw Minnie Mouse, or when Goofy and Pluto walked her through Animal Kingdom, are moments that will truly stay with me forever, because, for us as parents, they’re more than happy memories, those moments start to heal deep wounds from the most challenging time of our lives.
“They remind you what it’s like to live carefree in the moment, to laugh and smile without the weight of the past, or the uncertainty of the future. No amount of money can buy that. And every wish child deserves to feel as special as Martha did.”
These special memories are still a weekly topic of conversation six months later.
They said:
“We look at photos together, we reminisce and relive our favourite rides, memories and snacks. The big moments always get a mention – meeting Stitch, seeing the castle, the Buzz Lightyear ride, meeting Poppy and Branch at Universal. But it’s the small moments that spread the widest grins. There’s one particular moment for me that I will always remember; we were walking back towards a parade. We were so hot, with achy feet, sticky from suncream but I felt so incredibly full. Seeing our family all walking together, looking at the castle, talking about their best parts of the day, joking, and being so “in it” just felt like the most magical moment of the whole trip to me. If I could relive any moment, I think it would be that.”
The charity, founded in Nottingham by Barbara White CIOF OBE, has granted thousands of wishes to children living with terminal illnesses since its inception in 1990. From the chance to appear as an extra in TVs Horrible Histories, magical stays at LEGOLAND to climbing aboard the Polar Express, an array of wishes from children across the UK have been granted. However, the Disney Wish holds particular affection for the team as it was the very first wish requested to When You Wish Upon a Star 36 years ago.
ALB says it is proud to have funded 10 of the 20 Disney trips and continue its support for the charity. Last Christmas it chartered a flight to Lapland, giving 23 families the chance to visit Father Christmas. In total, the firm has donated £120,000 over the last 12 months with 33 families directly benefitting from its incredible generosity.
Arran said:
“It has been a privilege to help turn the dreams of children living with life threatening illnesses into reality. Our wish now is for more businesses to donate and ultimately grant more wishes.
“We will continue to fundraise and look at more ways to help make dreams come true in 2027, but I also urge businesses around Nottingham to donate to this incredibly worthy charity. By donating the value of a wish, we can continue to spread a little happiness to these brave and courageous children and young people.”
Donate directly to: www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk/donate
Alternatively, donate through ALB Giving: ALB Giving | Making dreams come true
Posted on 09 November 2026
