Member Article

Spoonful of storytelling helps the medicine go down

This spring, Starlight Children’s Foundation will bring a big dose of sunshine to poorly children at Francis House Children’s Hospice when its amazing Storytellers Tour pays a visit on June 3.

Starlight is a national charity that grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

The eight week long Starlight Storytellers Tour, which will visit 96 children’s wards across the country, has been funded by Heinz’s ‘Get Well’ Soup campaign, which ran in January and February this year.

This year’s stories have been produced exclusively for Starlight by The Panto Company who will perform Beauty and The Beast, The Jungle Book and The Wizard of Oz. Fully interactive, these adaptations of the well-loved children’s classics are full of fun and children and young people will be entertained as the four actors sing, dance and perform for them, their families and the care staff.

Neil Swan, Chief Executive of Starlight Children’s Foundation, said, “All of Starlight’s activities are aimed at distracting children from any pain and anxiety that they might be feeling as a result of their illness. The Starlight’s Storytellers Tour proved extremely popular last year with hospitals and hospices alike and we’re delighted to partner with Heinz for a second year running.”

Francis House Children’s Hospice provides care for children, teenagers and young adults with a short life expectancy. Based in Didsbury, Greater Manchester, Francis House helps over 370 families from all over the North West, providing specialist care in a homely, happy and secure place. 365 days a year it helps children and young adults with life-limiting conditions to live life to the full and offers much needed support, friendship and encouragement to their families. Services include respite care, home care, end of life care and bereavement support.

Matt Lee-Alliston, Managing Director of The Panto Company, said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Starlight to bring interactive storytelling to so many seriously ill children. Our acting troupe can’t wait to hit the road and bring the magic of storytelling to children’s wards and hospices across the country.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Francis House Children’s Hospice .