The Starlight Children’s Foundation is calling for 2,000 volunteers this Starlight Day on Friday, May 5.
Starlight Day aims to raise much-needed funds to deliver happiness to seriously ill children through Starlight’s Starlight Express Room and Captain Starlight programs, which are available in every children’s hospital across the country.
The foundation urgently needs more than 2000 purple and yellow-clad volunteers to hit the streets selling Starlight merchandise and collecting donations in central business districts and train stations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Individuals, schools, universities and community groups are also invited to fundraise anytime during May to contribute to the $1.3 million required to support more than 33,000 seriously ill children and their families this Starlight Day around Australia. help raise funds in their local community.
Starlight chief executive officer Louise Baxter promises that taking part as a volunteer in Starlight Day is a fun and rewarding experience.
“Our Starlight Day volunteers bring Starlight Day to life and in turn they help Starlight deliver fun, joy and laughter to thousands of sick kids and their families across Australia,” she said.
“We are encouraging all Australians to dig deep this Starlight Day to help us improve hospitalisation for seriously ill children and their families.
“Starlight’s hospital programs provide more than just a fleeting smile, replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter and giving seriously ill children the opportunity to simply be kids again – every donation is vital in helping us reach our goal of powering happiness and making a lasting difference to the wellbeing of sick kids.”
Starlight relies solely on the community to deliver its Starlight Express Room and Captain Starlight programs, which distract sick kids from hospitalisation through fun, play and laughter.
Every child admitted to hospital in Australia, regardless of illness, injury or age, can access the Starlight Express Room with their immediate family, giving them a unique opportunity to reconnect and bond.
It takes just $39 to help Starlight power happiness in one child by providing them with access to these facilities.
Starlight Day aims to raise much-needed funds to keep these unique programs available to children seven days a week, and fund the new Starlight Express Rooms soon to be opened in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.
To get involved in Starlight Day on Friday, May 5, visit starlight.org.au or join the conversation online using #StarlightDay #PowerTheHappy.