"Lap Top Library" for sick kids

The "Lap Top Library" is the latest craze at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Kids stuck in bed all day can now escape to a world of computer software, games and imagination thanks to the Rotary Club of Prospect (NSW). The club has made available a number of lap top computers for use by patients and the kids are certainly putting them to good use.

In particular, recognising the needs of long term and/or terminally ill young patients, the initial computers have been placed on wards where children are likely to stay longer. This includes our renal and cardiac wards.

The project was made possible through funding from Blacktown City Council (Blacktown Community Development Support Expenditure Local Committee), where the Blacktown Workers Club was the funding club. Support has also come from IBM, Liquorland and Video Ezy.

This project is a sub-project of the existing Rotary Club of Prospect's "Computers for Kids" project which recycles "previously loved" computers into the homes and workplaces of deserving individuals and organisations on an "as needs" basis.

On Friday 16 May at 10 AM, members of Prospect Rotary, Blacktown Council and other supporters will be visiting the Hospital to see the program in action. They will also meet with Larry, one of the Hospital volunteers, whose passion for computers has made him the ideal person to co-ordinate the program and make sure that the kids are getting the most out of their computers.

"This is one of the most exciting projects we have been involved with," said Jill Jenkins, Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Hospital. "It makes the world of difference to so many kids. There is no way that we could provide this without Rotary's wonderful support."

For further information, please contact:

Gilly Paxton
Manager
Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
(02) 9845 3364

Debra Fowler
Public Relations Officer
Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
(02) 9845 3364