New Starlight Fun Centres cheer kids this Christmas

A new Starlight Fun Centre just arrived at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is set to bring some festive cheer to children facing difficult treatments.

The Starlight Fun Centre is a mobile entertainment unit that incorporates a Nintendo Wii console, 4 x Nintendo DSi consoles, a Nintendo Fit Board, Blu-ray / DVD player, internet access and a flat screen HD TV.  It has been provided by the Starlight Children’s Foundation as a result of fund-raising by Norwich-based Swedish bank Handelsbanken and local radio station Heart.  

Starlight’s Janet Lindsay said:” The Fun Centre will provide lasting, year round entertainment straight to the bedsides of poorly children helping to distract them from the fear, pain and isolation they can sometimes feel as a result of their illness”.   Peter Daines, Corporate Account Manager for Handelsbanken organised a Charity Ball and Auction in October with the station’s Have a Heart charity, and it raised over £11,000.

He is delighted to be able to buy the area’s first Fun Centre with some of the proceeds, “Children sometimes have a frightening time in hospital particularly when the treatment is prolonged or difficult so we are thrilled to be able to help”.  

Emma Dolman, Sister on Buxton Ward at NNUH, said:  “We are delighted to have received this Starlight Fun Centre which gives the children such pleasure and helps to distract them when they’re feeling poorly.”  

The Heart network launched its charity Have a Heart in July 2009 to support projects that help disadvantaged children, specifically those who are vulnerable, face adversity, suffer from illness or are deprived of the childhood that every child deserves.  In its first year the charity raised £400,000 for its first charity beneficiary, Starlight Children’s Foundation – a national charity that brightens the lives of sick children through once in a lifetime wishes and hospital entertainment.