Launch Of Amazing Playground Built Especially For Sick Kids

The sounds of sick children giggling with delight, discovering their new playground will be heard by all this Saturday, 7th October at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

The George Gregan Foundation has raised $600,000 for a truly spectacular playground which will be officially launched this Saturday.

With the help of Occupational Therapists at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, this playground has been custom-designed to give access to children with all levels of ability. The centrepiece is a fabulous pirate ship, and there is a merry-go-round, both accessible for wheelchairs and children with their IV drips.

Patients and their visiting siblings will be able to play together on this playground. Play therapists and physiotherapists will use the playground as part of their therapy.

The playground is lit at night with fairy lights on the pirate ship and blue fibre-optic lighting that looks like water flowing around the pirate ship, so children can see the magic of the playground from their wards even at night.

The buzz at The Hospital is immense and our patients can't wait to test the new playground. It's truly something to see.

The George Gregan Foundation has helped realise a dream the Hospital has had since moving to its current site at Westmead nearly 11 years ago. Our patients will benefit immensely from this playground and we are extremely grateful to the George Gregan Foundation. Backyard Blitz have also donated the landscaping, giving us 'the icing on the cake'.

Backyard Blitz will be filming this launch as part of their program due to air this Sunday, 8th October at 6.30pm on Channel 9.

When: 10am - 12noon, Saturday 7th October 2006
What: Patients getting access to the Playground for the first time
Where: The Children's Hospital at Westmead - Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Westmead
Who: George Gregan, Hi-5's Charli & Sun, Patients and donors

Media contact: Debra Fowler, The Children's Hospital at Westmead on (02) 9845 3584 or Meagan Bryant, The George Gregan Foundation on 0414 650 453

Media contact on the Day: Please come to Enquiries, The Children's Hospital at Westmead and ask for Natalie Peck, Page 6041 or Ph (02) 9845 0000.