Our History
Roald Dahl’s marvellous legacy
His incredible life was also affected by serious illness, tragedy and loss. It was his personal experiences of illness – of his own and his close family – which spurred Roald Dahl to help seriously ill children and their families.
Roald Dahl believed in taking practical steps to improve the lives of those around him. His creativity and determination even helped to develop pioneering new medical treatments such as the Wade-Dahl-Till valve. This device was used to help thousands of children with hydrocephalus. Roald Dahl also generously gave his time and money to help seriously ill children and their families, including many he never met.
Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity continues this part of Roald Dahl’s legacy. We were created in memory of Roald Dahl (originally as the Roald Dahl Foundation) by his widow Dame Felicity Dahl, shortly after his death in 1991. Sir Quentin Blake helped to found our charity having been a huge part of Roald Dahl's life and stories, and remains a dedicated supporter and Co-President.
