Starlight Children's Foundation UK

Room PRW1
PO Box 4267
Goring
Reading
RG8 0AP

Tel: 020 7262 2881
Web: www.starlight.org.uk

Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by granting their wishes and providing hospital entertainment to help take their minds off the pain, fear and isolation of their illness. Where possible, mums, dads, brothers and sisters are involved to strengthen family bonds at what is often a time of great stress and give everyone happy memories to share, no matter what the future may hold.

Wish granting is the heart of Starlight’s work. A Starlight wish is more than just a special treat to look forward to when the pain won’t go away: it gives children a wonderful choice to make all by themselves at a time when most decisions need to be made for them. A wish remains a positive focus throughout long periods of treatment or recuperation and is often remembered as the turning point.

Starlight also has 'Fun Centres' which are specially designed mobile entertainment units incorporating a TV monitor, a combi video/DVD player and a Nintendo GameCube. Starlight Fun Centres are used as a crucial part of a child's treatment. They can be used to help calm children down prior to an important operation and to distract them as they fall asleep after their pre-med injections. Children who have access to a Starlight Fun Centre whilst undergoing treatment are often so absorbed playing their Nintendo game that they are unaware of the treatment being administered to them.