Merkur Casino has donated a total of £3,225 ($4,314) to Ripples of Compassion, a Bristol-based organisation that provides emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer and bereavement.
The contribution includes a recent £1,200 donation through the operator’s Merkur Community programme, building on a previous £2,025 contribution made in 2025.
The additional funding will enable the charity to expand several of its support initiatives, including bereavement therapy services, self-care resources and wellbeing tools for families experiencing grief.
Founded in 2018 by Fiona Corless, Ripples of Compassion was established in memory of her daughter, Ripley Olive Corless, who died from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at the age of two.
The charity aims to ensure that parents, carers and families affected by childhood cancer, life-limiting illnesses or the loss of a child have access to inclusive and compassionate mental health and emotional support.
The latest funding will help maintain the charity’s bereavement therapy programme and support the creation of additional resources designed to assist families during periods of crisis. These include comfort items, memorial support initiatives and wellbeing tools such as relaxation cards and soft toys.
Since receiving Merkur’s initial funding in 2025, Ripples of Compassion has been able to extend its free services to hospitals, hospices and other charities across the UK. Its support programmes include bereavement counselling, home-cooked meal deliveries, self-care boxes and activity resources for children and families.
Commenting on the recent donation, Corless stated: “We are so grateful for the additional donation. The support from Merkur does not just provide resources, it gives those affected the space to feel seen, heal, and ultimately know that they are not alone.
“Every box, every toy, and every therapy session is critical to providing a little glimmer of light to families during their darkest of times. Merkur’s extra funding will ensure that we can continue to make 2026 a year of hope and healing.”
According to the charity, around 1,900 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, with approximately 240 deaths annually. Organisations such as Ripples of Compassion aim to provide support services to families navigating these challenges.
This donation is the latest in a series of charitable commitments from the operator. Last week, Merkur announced a separate £100,000 three-year partnership with Momentum Children's Charity, which provides emotional and practical support to families of children facing cancer or life-challenging conditions across London, Surrey and Sussex.
Since launching, the Merkur Community programme has donated more than £323,000 to around 150 charities and community groups across the UK
