What is Starlight Day?
- Starlight Day is the national fundraising day for the Starlight Children's Foundation and is held on the first Friday in May each year. In 2008, Starlight Day will be held on May 2nd.
- Starlight Day is the one day of the year Starlight Children’s Foundation reaches out to the Australian community for support.
What is the Starlight Children's Foundation?
- The Starlight Children's Foundation provides innovative programs for seriously ill and hospitalised children in Australia, giving them a reason to smile. For information about the Starlight Children's Foundation, click here, or visit www.starlight.org.au.
- Starlight’s programs include our Captain Starlight superhero whose sole purpose is to make sick kids smile, Starlight Express Rooms and Fun Centres for hospitalised children, the Starlight Express Vans which take fun and laughter to other sick children, and the much-appreciated Escapes program and Wishgranting programs for Starlight children and their families.
How can I raise money for Starlight Day?
Where does money raised go?
- The funds raised throughout the Starlight Day period will provide vital assistance for children and their families who live with serious illness and disability. There are currently 600,000 child admissions to hospitals each year with Starlight currently only reaching one in three. There are many more children in need of Starlight’s help. Your support on Starlight Day will help us to achieve our goal of reaching all of these children and their families.
About buying and selling merchandise for Starlight Day
When can I buy merchandise?
- Single Starlight Day items can be purchased by individuals on Starlight Day.
- Bulk merchandise can be bought from April 1 2008 to sell on Starlight Day by anyone who wants to place an order and pay up front.
- All merchandise orders will be shipped after April 1, 2008 (for more information on shipping contact 1300 727 827).
How can I sell merchandise in a shopping centre?
To sell merchandise at a shopping centre you will need to volunteer.
How can I sell merchandise in my school?
To sell merchandise in your school purchase merchandise through the Starlight Day website section, Make a Difference.
How can I sell merchandise in my office?
To sell merchandise in your office purchase merchandise through the Starlight Day website section, Make a Difference.
How can I buy merchandise for myself?
You can buy merchandise on Starlight Day May 2 through to May 4 in major shopping centres across Australia and in the CBD of capital cites. You can also purchase Starlight Day merchandise from any Caltex store in Australia from April 1st to May 31st.
About volunteering on Starlight Day
If I volunteer for Starlight Day, what do I need to do?
First register online to be a volunteer. As a Starlight Day volunteer you’ll be responsible for selling merchandise and collecting donations at your location, which you can choose when you register. It costs nothing to volunteer, but your assistance will make a huge difference to Starlight, and will help to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children. If you register as a Location Leader Volunteer, all you need to do is show up for your rostered shift and have a great day!
Which locations can I volunteer to sell merchandise at?
There are locations for volunteers all over Australia and you can arrange to volunteer in your local area. You can see what sites are available in your area.
About a Starlight child
Avelynn’s Story
Avelynn is 6 years old and suffers from a serious heart condition, high blood pressure (pulminary hypertension) in her lungs, liver disease, and hypertension as well as having a gastrostomy button for feeding.
When Avelynn’s mother, Michelle was 11 weeks pregnant she found out that Avelynn had fluid at the back of her neck. At 9 weeks of age Avelynn was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after having major heart surgery. Avelynn had a stroke as a result of the surgery which left her with a weakness on her left side.
“It was very emotional for me and Peter to see her in ICU, we couldn’t touch her because she had a couple of cardiac arrests, and we didn’t know if that was going to be our last moment with her… I don’t think you ever get over what you see in the ICU,” said Michelle, Avelynn’s mother.
Avelynn has spent a considerable amount of time in and out of hospital since she was born and Starlight has been a light in the dark for Avelynn and her family. Avelynn loves visiting the Starlight Express Room when she’s in hospital as it gives her much needed distraction from the pain and treatments. She has also been to a number of Starlight Escapes including a visit to Circus Oz.
Avelynn’s Starlight Wish was for a playground to be built in her backyard. Starlight arranged a fort, sandpit, swing set, trampoline and monkey bars to be installed. Avelynn couldn’t wait to try her new playground as soon as it was finished and since then she’s spent hours a day playing there with her sisters. This wish has not only given Avelynn something to cherish and enjoy, but the playground also means Avelynn can regularly exercise her left side, weakened by her stroke.
“Starlight is a wonderful charity that has brought a lot of hope, laughter and fun into our lives. Not only through the Starlight Express Room and the Starlight Escapes we have been on, but also having Avelynn’s wish granted. You have brought Avelynn’s wish to real life and made it even better than she could have imagined, thank you Starlight,” said Michelle, Avelynn’s Mum.
Click here to watch a short video about Avelynn’s story.
