Starlight Children’s Foundation is facing a huge challenge this Christmas with $1 million needed to grant 154 wishes for seriously ill and hospitalised children across Australia.
The average cost to fulfil a Starlight wish is $6,500 and this Christmas Starlight is asking Australians to ‘Join the Starlight mission’ by rallying friends, family, colleagues and staff to donate to the cause.
Louise Baxter, CEO, Starlight Children’s Foundation, said: “A Starlight wish is quite literally a dream come true for a child battling a chronic or life-threatening illness and we know that these wishes can be a crucial turning point in helping them to successfully fight on.
With our sights set on the goal of granting 154 wishes this festive season, and with no government support, Starlight needs help to raise the money needed to transform the lives of these children and their families at this important time.”
As part of its national Christmas “Wishes Appeal”, Starlight has launched its ‘Join the Starlight mission’ campaign to encourage Australian’s young and old, businesses, communities and individuals to form a crew of friends, family and colleagues to donate to the cause this Christmas.
The campaign features the stories of Ivy, Bradley, Jack and Maddy – four seriously ill Starlight children whose wishes to dance with the Australian Ballet, watch the Sydney Swans play at the AFL grand final, be a policeman for a day, and go to Australia Zoo to meet Bindi Irwin were all granted by Starlight.
Ivy’s mum, Tiffany, said the impact of being granted a Starlight wish was life-changing for her daughter, who suffers from a rare and serious immune deficiency.
“I cannot describe how magical the Starlight wish was for Ivy. Since the age of three she’s wanted to be a ballerina, therefore granting her wish to dance with the Australian Ballet was a once-in-a- lifetime experience that she will never forget and one that she will be able to hold onto during the really hard days.
“I encourage people to donate what they can to Starlight this Christmas to bring some sunshine into the lives of desperately ill children and their families.”
For more information or to donate, go to www.starlightmission.org.au.
