Charity event to benefit sick Sunshine Coast kids
September 11, 2013
The Coast’s sick youngsters are set to receive one large and much-needed reason to smile, with local charity Wishlist pledging all proceeds from the upcoming Wishlist Spring Carnival Lunch to the Nambour General Hospital’s diversional therapy program.
Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said she was thrilled to put the funding towards such a worthwhile program, which sees therapists use yoga and music, as well as interaction with animals and structured play sessions to help reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia amongst paediatric patients.
“With some of these children going through the biggest fight of their lives and facing medical treatments and physical pain each day, it’s nice to see a program rolled out that eases some of the burden and allows them to escape reality for a time,” Ms Rowe said.
“It’s incredibly touching to see the children’s faces light up during a therapy session, particularly when they’ve been bed-bound and feeling down.”
Nambour General Hospital Children’s Ward Nurse Unit Manager Paulene Rogers said the program had already delivered positive results, with the gentle physical activity involved in some the therapy sessions assisting the healing process for many paediatric patients.
“The diversional therapy program has proved invaluable; from Happy the dog who visits the children’s rooms, right through to the ‘In Harmony’ music therapy sessions, the program is making a real difference in the ward,” Ms Rogers said.
“Currently, around $30,000 is allocated to this program each year, and we’re hoping to expand this figure to around $100,000, which will allow us to bring in therapists as often as needed.”
Ms Rowe feels confident that the targets will be achieved thanks to the generous support of business people from across the Sunshine Coast who not only donate prizes but also bid on them on the day.
“If last year’s Wishlist Spring Carnival Lunch is anything to go by, we’re hopeful we’ll reach this target,” Ms Rowe said.
“More than $120,000 was raised for prostate cancer patients at the 2012 event, which is just phenomenal.”
Sunshine Coast parent Zac De La Haye, whose seven-year-old daughter Indianna suffers from a rare form of bone cancer and has spent close to 150 nights in hospital, said the therapy had been a godsend in his daughter’s time of need.
“The visits from Happy the dog and the music therapy sessions in particular were especially helpful for Indianna,” Mr De La Haye said.
“The music sessions gave her the opportunity to express her frustration at being bedridden and away from home, as well as her joy and excitement at being involved in play.”
Mr De La Haye said the program also provided a much-needed reprieve for him and his partner, at a time when they were fraught with worry about their daughter’s health.
“We were spending such long hours at Indianna’s bedside that it was nice to take a moment to catch our breath when the therapist was with her or even grab a quick coffee, knowing that she was in safe hands and enjoying herself,” Mr De La Haye said.
“It was a great feeling to see her get to the end of a session and have a smile on her face, despite everything she was going through.”
The annual Wishlist Spring Carnival Lunch, which is sold out months ahead of the event, will be held at the Palmer Coolum Resort on 20 September. A number of celebrities will be getting behind the cause including model, actress and television personality Annalise Braakensiek and hair stylist and television personality Joh Bailey. This year guests will also enjoy a fashion show featuring the clothes of internationally acclaimed Australian designer, Jayson Brunsdon who has thrown his full support behind this worthy cause.
For more information, please visit www.wishlist.org.au.
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More information
Media contact: Maya Gurry – Fresh PR & Marketing
P: 0410 109 102 E: maya@freshprm.com.au
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