The Charity was formed in June 2012 following the discovery of a Pilocytic Astrocytoma within the brain of the founder and chairman's then four-year old son. Reach For a Star began as a group assisting families who faced the same emotional rollercoaster of fear, heartbreak and concern for their child's health.
The group soon developed into a local charity, changing the emphasis of their mission to raise funds for all local children, under the age of eighteen, facing life-altering, life threatening or terminal medical conditions. With the help of the people of King's Lynn and its surrounding areas, Reach For a Star was able to register with the Charity Commission in November 2012.
The charity is based around local people helping local children. Our current Charitable Association Constitution contains a number of charitable objects; the primary concern being the donation of financial aid for medical or therapeutic equipment and sensory or educational aids made unavailable through the regular statutory channels. With the public’s help, Reach For a Star is able to purchase specialist pushchairs, orthopaedic beds, sensory and educational items or aid with specialist therapy costs or travel expenses.
The Reach For a Star trustees and volunteers are all local and donate their time completely free of charge, ensuring that no salaries or personal overheads are paid ensuring as much money as possible from donations goes straight to those it was intended for. Our patrons also provide their valuable time and help for free.
Reach For a Star is a founder member of the King's Lynn Brain Tumour Support Group alongside other prominent local brain cancer research charities The Astro Brain Tumour Fund and Red Wellies.
In addition to our main charitable object of assisting with ‘care’ costs, Reach For a Star also runs an annual scheme, 'Reaching The Stars' in addition to regularly supporting the children on the local Rudham Ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital through various donations intended to increase both patient joy and goodwill and hopefully put a smile back on the faces of some very brave children.
In the five years of operation, Reach For a Star has already won a number of awards:
In 2016, Trustee James Lewis was awarded the King's Lynn & Borough Council Mayor's Civic Award for Voluntary Service.
In 2017, Trustee Shareen Hannan was the recipient of the King's Lynn & Borough Council Mayor's Civic Award for Voluntary Service.
On 02 June 2017, Reach For a Star were able to announce that the charity had been honoured with a Queen's Award For Voluntary Service.
Reach For a Star is an award winning charitable group located in King’s Lynn, Norfolk and is entirely funded by public
donations, individual grants or via commercial sponsorship.
