The Christmas countdown has now begun and there are only 23 days until Christmas. Starlight still urgently needs your support to reach our $1.5 million goal to connect seriously ill children to the joy of Christmas.

We truly appreciate all the schools, community groups, individuals and corporate partners who have generously supported Starlight this Christmas by making a donation and writing a Message of Hope which has been sent to seriously ill kids in hospitals all around the

country.

Every day during this Christmas period over 400 seriously ill children will be admitted to hospitals across Australia. The challenges that families face all year round who have seriously ill and hospitalised children are only amplified at Christmas time, a time when they

should all be at home together.

As we all start to think about friends, family and special times together, I often try to imagine how different Christmas might be for a child with a serious illness and their family.

Please donate to Starlight this Christmas visit www.starlight.org.au or phone 1300 727 827.

Louise Baxter, CEO Starlight Childrens Foundation Australia