Helping Children
So another year rolls in and you’re renewing your gym membership, buying every salad bag in the supermarket, emptying the Brandy bottle down the sink and ditching your cigarettes to make way for a healthy new you ‐ just like you do every January. But for seriously and terminally ill children, the prospect of a New Year is a much bigger step. For many they are delighted to have spent another Christmas with their families, but they’re also full of worry about the year ahead and doubtful as to whether they’ll see another new year at all.
Story Highlights
- Starlight Children’s Foundation
- How Starlight Makes a Difference
- How You Can Help
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Starlight Children's Foundation grants the wishes of more than 500,000 seriously ill children, helping them to forget their pain and the fear of their illness. They provide hospital entertainment, experiences of a lifetime, unforgettable holidays and happy memories for seriously and terminally ill children, and their families. Starlight understands the importance of involving the children’s families so as to maximise the family bond during a very stressful time. By granting their wishes Starlight are able to distract children from their illnesses and bring them great happiness.
How Starlight Makes a Difference
Starlight has brightened the lives of very ill children since 1987. Bradley, 6, has acute myeloid leukaemia. It really made his day when Starlight allowed him to meet his hero ‐ the blue Power Ranger. George, 8, suffers from medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour, and he had the experience of a lifetime when Starlight sent him and his family to be a zookeeper among pandas (his favourite animal) at the San Diego Zoo.
Chloe, 5, was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer, called a Wilms' tumour. She had to spend long periods in hospital and longed to learn ballet, just like all her friends. To celebrate the end of her treatment Starlight organised a party for Chloe with fairies and real ballerinas. Chloe’s mum said: “Chloe is a girly girl, who is popular and outgoing. She doesn’t let anything get in her way. Having ballerinas and fairies at her party really brought her wish to life and thanks to Starlight her party was extra special.”
Starlight also help by providing hospital entertainment for children. One of the most popular approaches is the Fun Centres. These combine a TV monitor, a Nintendo Games Cube and a DVD player to distract children from their pain and the medical surroundings.
Joshua, 9, suffering from a congenital heart disease, has enjoyed the Fun Centre during his treatment. His mum Joanna said: “It is the most effective post operative, relief available, bringing more smiles and drying more eyes than any medicine on offer.”
How You Can Help
Help give a child something to look forward to this year and give them fresh hope for the years ahead. With no government support, Starlight need as much help as they can get so please do what you can today.
Giveaways: Help Starlight raise funds by donating items for their auctions on Ebay. Please give any unwanted Christmas gifts ‐ or perhaps something you received last Christmas that has been lying around gathering dust ever since.
Get Sponsored: Visit starlight.org.uk and click on the How Can You Help link. From here check out the Sporting and Overseas Events where you can choose from any of the 2009 challenges and raise funds for Starlight.
Donate: If you can spare a few Euros call Starlight on 0044 20 7262 2881 or go to starlight.org.uk and make a donation.
Spread the Word: Tell a friend about Starlight and direct them to the website. You never know ‐ they might be able to help.
For more details call 020 7262 2881, write to ‐ Starlight Children’s Foundation, Room PRW1, PO Box 4267, Goring, Reading, United Kingdom, RG8 0AP or e‐mail info@starlight.org.uk‐ Jen Page
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