Captain Starlight will host the first “Adventure Active Wii day” in the Starlight Express Room

Over thirty children in the Mater Children’s Hospital, KOALA program will enjoy the day, combining fun and exercise with the brand new Dance Mat game designed for Nintendo Wii and a range of GameBikes. This new program has been generously provided by XRGame Action.

 

“XRGame Action helps kids and their families discover games and controllers that exercise more than just your thumbs. By combining exercise and games, fitness can be fun! It’s great to be supporting the KOALA program and the Starlight Children’s Foundation,” said Simone Brown, Director of XRGame Action.

 

The KOALA Mater Healthy Lifestyle Program is a pilot study to help tackle the growing issue of childhood obesity.

 

“The program encourages a healthier active life for children and their families. The Adventure Active Wii day will be a fun-filled experience with the host, Captain Starlight,” said Gary Leong, Staff Specialist, Mater Children’s Hospital.

 

Starlight Children’s Foundation’s QLD Programs Manager, Jo Dann said: “We are really thrilled to be partnering with the Mater Children’s Hospital for this event – Captain Starlight will provide lots of fun, laughter and entertainment in the Starlight Express Room on Saturday. These events are very important as they give hospitalised children something fun to look forward to – it also provides much needed positive distraction at a time when they need it most.”

 

Starlight Express Rooms are located in seven major paediatric hospitals throughout Australia and are managed by professionally trained children’s entertainers known as Captain Starlight. The Starlight Express Room is a place where Captain Starlight delivers a special brand of fun and entertainment, alongside the latest computer games, movies, crafts and activities.

 

The Starlight Express Room is one of the many programs Starlight provides which restore the fun, laughter and joy that serious illness takes away. These programs include the Starlight Fun Centres, Starlight’s Wishgranting program, Starlight Express Van and Starlight Escapes.

 

Each year there are over 600,000  child admissions to hospitals across Australia and currently, Starlight only reaches ‘1 in 3’ of these children and their families. Starlight’s aim by 2010 is to give 3 out of 3 seriously ill children the opportunity to access and benefit from Starlight’s innovative programs. 

 

 

ABOUT STARLIGHT:

 

«  Since 1988, Starlight has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families through the delivery of innovative programs, which provide positive distraction to restore the fun, laughter and joy that serious illness takes away.

 

«  Starlight’s programs include Starlight Express Rooms, Starlight Express Vans, Starlight Fun Centres, Starlight Escapes, Captain Starlight and Starlight Wishgranting to brighten the lives of sick children and their families at a time when they need it most.

 

«  These programs are an integral part of the total health care of sick children.

 

«  Starlight relies on the generosity of individuals, community groups and businesses to exist. To find out how you can make a difference visit www.starlight.org.au or call 1300 727 827.

 

 

Note to Editors:

 

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY:

 

Date:               Saturday 5 July, 2008

Time:              10:00am sharp

Location:        Starlight Express Room, Mater Children’s Hospital

Who:              Brisbane Bronco’s player Corey Parker, Captain Starlight, hospitalised children from the Koala Mater Healthy Lifestyle Program

What:            Captain Starlight and Corey Parker hosts the first Adventure Active WII day in the Starlight Express Room with lots of fun and entertainment

 

 

For media enquiries please contact:

Jemma Hawksford, the Marketing Department, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Ph: (02) 8425 5987 or jemma.hawksford@starlight.org.au