Category: Top News
Published on: September 1st, 2025
We were delighted to welcome over thirty families from Owen McVeigh Foundation for a special visit to Knowsley Safari this August.
Together with the Foundation, Knowsley Safari hosted a day out for children suffering from cancer and their families, as a chance to enjoy quality time together, making happy memories and exploring wildlife in a relaxed and supportive setting.
The families began their adventure on the Safari Drive, spotting rhinos, ostriches, lions and more, before collecting wristbands for the amusement rides and enjoying two of our animal displays; Birds of Prey and the California sea lions, where sea lion Arthur stole the spotlight.
Most families stayed right through until closing times, soaking up the fun and freedom of the day. For many, it was a chance to simply enjoy being together, away from hospital visits and treatment - something that lies at the heart of the Owen McVeigh Foundation’s mission.
The Owen Mcveigh Foundation was set up by Mark McVeigh in memory of his son Owen, who tragically passed away from leukaemia aged just 11. A young boy with a big love for both Liverpool FC and Knowsley Safari, Owen and his family spent many weekends at the park, and his legacy continues through the charity during this special visit, which is just one of the many visits they organise to create magical memories for children living with cancer across Merseyside.
Founder Mark McVeigh shared how meaningful the day was for him personally:
“I’ve been wanting to work with Knowsley Safari for some time now as it has a very special place in our hearts. Owen was a member for many years and one of your intrepid Explorers. To now return with the Foundation and deliver this experience for our families is incredibly special.”
Mark added: “A day like this means so much to our families. They get to spend quality time together and just be normal families for a day. That’s exactly what we achieved at Knowsley Safari, creating life-long memories.”
We are proud to support this incredible charity and look forward to continuing the tradition as a regular event in the calendar, helping Mark and the rest of the Foundation in creating magical memories together for many years to come.
