Help Starlight grant 132 wishes for sick kids this Christmas

­­­­­­­­This Christmas Starlight Children’s Foundation is appealing for help to raise $858,000 to grant 132 life-changing Starlight Wishes for seriously ill children, teenagers and their families across Australia.

Starlight Children’s Foundation, CEO, Louise Baxter, said: “With just three weeks to go until Christmas, we’re urgently appealing for help to make dreams come true for some especially deserving families.

“Starlight Wishes not only lift the spirits of the child, but bring together the entire family for a welcome distraction and break from the stress of treatment and hospitalisation.”

Starlight Wish recipient, 9 year old Poppy Sincock was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy after suffering a stroke at just six weeks old and has since struggled with her health. Poppy’s Starlight Wish was fulfilled in October when she travelled to the Gold Coast with her family to meet her favourite animated character, Scooby Doo.

Poppy’s mother Jade Wright said her daughter’s Starlight Wish was a treasured experience. “We’ve been through some difficult times with Poppy’s illness, so the more happy memories we can have, the better. Poppy’s Starlight Wish was truly unforgettable,” said Wright.

Proud Starlight ambassador and three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning, who recently granted a Starlight Wish to a teenage cancer patient from Adelaide, said: “Starlight Wishes bring fun and laughter back in to the lives of kids who have been through unbelievably tough times.

“Demand for Starlight Wishes is as great as ever and I urge everyone to make a donation to help Starlight make dreams come true for sick kids and their families this Christmas,” said Fanning.  

Starlight’s Wishgranting program covers travel wishes, hero wishes, experience wishes and gift wishes. The program supports kids and teens with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, and is designed to promote wellbeing and happiness for the child, teenager and their family. 

Around 500 unique Starlight Wishes are granted each year and this number is increasing due to growing demand.

Starlight was established in Australia in 1988 and recently granted its 9000^th Wish. Starlight receives no government support and relies solely on the community for funding.

This Christmas Starlight is proudly supported nationally by Big W. Starlight wands are on sale at Big W stores nationally for $5.

To make a donation and find out how you can help fulfil Starlight Wishes this Christmas, call 1300 727 827 or visit www.starlight.org.au.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:
Sam Boyd, Access PR, samb@accesspr.com.au | 02 9292 7013 | 0414 408 198
Laura Minns, Access PR, laura@accesspr.com.au | 02 9292 7002 | 0431 375 990

About Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill children and their families by replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter. Since its establishment in 1988, Starlight has expanded to become the broadest reaching children’s charity in Australia. There is now a Starlight Express Room in every children’s hospital in the country and more than 100 Captain Starlights nationwide. This year the Starlight Express Room program is expanding with construction of several new Starlight Express Rooms and refurbishment of existing rooms. Supporting sick kids regardless of illness, injury or age, Starlight’s hospital programs are uniquely Australian and exist nowhere else in the world. Last year, Starlight granted 498 life-changing wishes and supported more than 146,000 sick kids and their families. www.starlight.org.au