The Healing Power of Play

We asked Daniel, Auckland New Zealand volunteer to share why volunteering is important to him. Daniel is one of our incredible volunteers who visits children in hospital one night a week to bring smiles to children when they need it the most. At the end of each night, he knows it’s not just the children who receive the smiles always with one on his own face as well.

“Helping people makes me feel good,” says Daniel. “I’m definitely a much happier person because of Radio Lollipop. The simplicity of play impacts the child, their family and even us as volunteers.”

Daniel shares his wow moment: One evening we were volunteering in the Starship Atrium when a timid boy, who’d only recently started suffering from seizures, and his dad came over. We spent time playing with the boy, got him on the radio and helped him out of his shell – it was very rewarding. Whilst watching his son on the radio his dad got chatting to me, stating that he hadn’t seen his son this happy since the seizures started happening. That was my WOW moment for that evening. One year later I was at an event where the same boy and his dad starred in a Radio Lollipop promotional video, the transformation and words of gratitude were overwhelming. It made me really happy to know that I’d had a positive effect on the boy and his dad.

Radio Lollipop New Zealand is currently looking for volunteers in the Central, West and South Auckland area. We currently operate at Starship Children’s Hospital, Rangatira Ward Waitakere Hospital or Kidz First Middlemore Hospital. You will be required to attend an Information Evening to hear more about our service, so you can make the decision if you would like to apply for a position on our team.

Each volunteer visits one evening a week, taking arts, crafts, games to children in hospital and helping to create the kind of environment our kids need to heal and recover. 

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, there is no need for medical or radio experience – you just need to bring your own unique sense of child-led fun! 

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, follow this link here to sign up! 

Radio Lollipop Edinburgh 5k Moveathon!

Radio Lollipop Edinburgh is hosting a Moveathon on Saturday 17th June at 5pm and would love for everyone to come along for a fantastic night!

Hosted at Cramond Beach, the 5k route is flat and manageable whether you want to run, cycle, bounce, scooter, skip or crawl we won’t mind!

Signing up is easy, all you have to do is register your interest on our Virgin Money Giving page – donating £5 for adults and £3 for under 18s as your registration fee. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RadioLollipopMoveathon

Open to volunteers, friends, family, supporters of Radio Lollipop or exercise enthusiasts – we hope to see you there!

Please arrive at the start line at 4.45pm for a 5pm start.

Public and free parking is available behind the Crammond Inn Pub and there will be mascots at the car park directing you to the start line.

Book week celebrations at the Gold Coast Hospital

DSC_1011_CROPPEDFairytales, magic, talking animals and wild adventures, Radio Lollipop volunteers recently teamed up with the nurses of the Gold Coast University Hospital to help sick children live the magic and imaginations of popular childhood books.

Thanks to the coordination, dedication and kindness of locals, our volunteers received a collection of picture books and novels, reminiscent of their own childhood favourites and allowed them to connect with the children on a much deeper level.

The Gold Coast volunteers hand-delivered the donated books as prizes throughout the night, and their silly costumes and bright face-paint were a delighted distraction from medication and humdrum hospital routines.

For the volunteers, it was a rare but exciting opportunity to bond with the nurses over the dress-ups, as they too donned capes, wigs and full-bodied costumes to support the dream-like atmosphere.

In combining efforts with locals and nurses, Radio Lollipop Gold Coast continues striving to create the best bedside experience for children in hospital.

 

Gold Coast and Brisbane runners raise over $4000 in the recent marathon

It wasn’t for the glory and it certainly wasn’t to break record time; Gold Coast and Brisbane volunteers joined together to conquer the 5.7km walk in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, raising funds and awareness for Radio Lollipop along the way.

The team were hard to miss when they hit the tracks donned in colourful tutus, bubble wands and sparkling foil balloons. They certainly made a huge impact; fellow runners photographed selfies with our daring group while onlooking crowds cheered and whistled from the sidelines.

With the volunteers taking to their social media pages, the team of 12 successfully raised a total of $4208.70.

The money will go towards prizes, craft essentials and games to ensure Radio Lollipop continues to deliver the best bedside service to sick children in hospital.