The Newcastle Knights helped spread some Starlight magic today at a Christmas party for hospitalised children and their families at the Starlight Express Room, John Hunter Hospital.

Knights Jarrod Mullen, Scott Dureau, Mark Taufua and James McManus took time out of their training schedule to celebrate the Knights Charity Partnership with the Starlight Foundation and bring much needed joy to hospitalised children who need extra Christmas cheer.

Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Programs Manager, Ken Gamma said: “Special visits from sportspeople like the Knights are very important as they give hospitalised children and their families something fun to look forward to during their stay and especially so in the lead-up to Christmas.”

John Hunter’s Starlight Express Room is a part of Starlight’s in-hospital program, providing children and their families with a place they can go to escape the loneliness, stress and boredom often experienced with hospital life.

Described as an ‘entertainment haven’, the Starlight Express Room provides sick children with a broad range of activities including live shows by Captain Starlight, games, high tech entertainment, the latest movies and arts and crafts.

For those children too ill to leave their beds, they can enjoy watching the antics and fun of Captain Starlight from their hospital bed on Starlight’s TV channel.

This year alone over 70,000 children and their families have enjoyed the fun and entertainment provided by Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Room.

Starlight currently has seven Starlight Express Rooms in major Paediatric Hospitals across Australia. Starlight Express Rooms are managed by the very talented character known as Captain Starlight, who helps brighten the lives of all children visiting the room.

Seriously ill children can escape the loneliness, boredom and stress of hospitalised life by enjoying the latest movies, playing computer games, doing arts or crafts, or watching a performance by Captain Starlight.

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 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 reaches around ‘1 in 3’ of the 600,000 child hospital admissions across Australia each year. Our aim is to reach each and every child.

? 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.