Ben's story

It's a hard thing to narrow down what I enjoy most about volunteering at Starlight, what with all the musical instruments, art supplies, and having every video game under the sun.

But the thing I absolutely enjoy most about Starlight is getting to hang out with the loveliest, funniest, silliest people in the world! The Captain Starlights and Starlight Volunteers I've met have become my friends. Being with them is the best way I can think of to spend my Saturday afternoons.

I've been told I've completed over 640 hours of volunteering for Starlight - I had no idea I had done so many hours! I guess time flies when you're having fun.

I originally started volunteering with Starlight as a way to complement my studies. I was studying a degree in medical research, but I hadn't really spent much time with people in hospital or with chronic disease, and I wanted to see the "human side" of the work I was doing.

When I started volunteering in the Starlight Express Room, I found that Starlight is much more focused on letting children be children, and our role is really to help them play and have fun in what can otherwise be a pretty dry environment.

I've had countless wonderful moments and experiences in the Starlight Express Room! Just recently a kid was singing this song about the old west, and I think he was just enjoying making up the words, so I started playing some guitar chords along with him and he started getting more and more into it until he was just belting it out. We filmed it, and it must have gone for about 5 minutes, then we played it on air during the Secret Sound game show, and it was gold!

Also, one time I asked a girl what she was drawing in the art room, and she said a narwhal, which was her favourite animal. I'd never heard of that before, so that was a learning experience!

Volunteering for Starlight is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. If you're thinking about doing it, I’d really encourage you to try it out!