Make Christmas magical for children in hospital
Bring Christmas magic to children who need it the most
Serious illness can steal many things from children’s lives, but Christmas needn’t be one of them.
From November to January, we’re turning children’s wards into panto stages so that poorly children can escape their fears and loneliness to enter a magical world of laughter, music, and wonder.
We’re also sending Festive Boxes full of toys and play resources to hospitals across the UK, so children in hospital this Christmas don’t feel like they’ve been forgotten.
Your caring donation won’t just lift their spirits – it will ease their worries, distract them from their treatment, and help to protect their childhood.
If that’s not Christmas magic, what is?
“I can’t put into words what a difference you’ll make by donating to Starlight today. Their festive show will boost families like mine and lift children up during the hardest time of their lives.”
Filly's Story
Several years ago, shortly before Christmas, a barely-conscious three-year-old Filly was rushed to A&E. She was in a very bad way.
Filly had been fighting a cough for a couple of weeks before taking a turn for the worse.
Just a few days later, after many tests, her parents were given the devastating news that no parent wants to hear. Filly had cancer. Then, on Christmas Eve, she started chemotherapy for leukaemia.
Filly’s cancer diagnosis threatened to steal her Christmas, which she’d been so looking forward to in the weeks prior. She was just old enough to revel in the build-up to the big day, and cancer threatened to rob her of that joy.
Thankfully, Filly’s hospital understood the healing power of play and it was stocked with an array of Starlight resources to support young patients like Filly. The hospital had even organised for some Disney princesses to visit the children – Filly was delighted!
The emphasis on play as part of her treatment not only helped Filly to cope with harrowing medical procedures, they also made her laugh along the way.
With reassurance from the play team that Santa was on his way, Filly soon realised that Christmas hadn’t been cancelled. She would have the magical Christmas she’d been hoping for!
“I can’t put into words what a difference you’ll make by donating to Starlight today. Their festive show will boost families like mine and lift children up during the hardest time of their lives.”
Help more children like Filly by supporting therapeutic play in hospitals
Make Christmas magic!
Make Christmas magical for seriously ill children in hospital.