Trivia night to help sick kids build a secret garden

Play Therapists at The Children's Hospital at Westmead have long thought that an interactive, multi-sensory garden within the Hospital grounds would be beneficial to many children, including those with long term illnesses and those who have been involved in serious accidents.

They hope to soon make this dream a reality and are asking for your support by attending a trivia night on 19 October at Rydges Hotel, Parramatta. This night promises to be loads of fun for a great cause.

The purpose of building a multi-sensory garden is to help children to better cope with illness and hospitalisation and to allow a better quality of life for children with who are often affected by life threatening or limiting conditions. The garden will also provide opportunities for exploratory play, sensory stimulation and creativity which all create an environment where stress and anxiety can be reduced.

Six-year-old Thomas Boniface recently had a cancerous tumour removed from his spinal cord in a delicate operation performed at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Thomas and his family are staying at Ronald McDonald House while he receives a long-term course of chemotherapy and is rehabilitated due to the damage to nerves in his spinal cord.

Thomas is one child who would benefit greatly from the creation of a multi-sensory garden as it would not only be an important part of the rehabilitation process, it would also offer him and his family a retreat away from the regular hospital setting.

You can assist The Children's Hospital at Westmead to establish a multi-sensory garden by supporting the Trivia and Auction night at Rydges Hotel. No one will go home empty handed - there are great prizes up for grabs including a Solar Springs Getaway, a holiday package, encyclopaedia set and adventure, dinner, beauty and clothing vouchers.

A massive auction will also be held on the night with items such as a World Cup Wallaby jersey, Goodwill Games shirt signed by the Australian swimming team, a Pat Rafter shirt, Australian team netball and various signed rugby league and basketball jerseys.

Tickets are $25 each and are sold individually or within tables of ten people. This cost includes hot finger food and tea and coffee. For further information, or to purchase tickets, please contact Kylie or Tina by phoning (02) 9845 3718.

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Julie Stromborg
Public Relations Officer
Ph: (02) 9845 3580
Fax: (02) 9845 3567
Pager: (02) 9845 0000 and quote page no. 6920