Fun times ease the pain

THE donation of another mobile entertainment centre to Dandenong Hospital’s children’s ward has highlighted the importance of the machines to the recovery of seriously ill children.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation this month donated a fourth fun centre to Dandenong Hospital, with funding for the $10,000 machine coming from medical equipment company BD.
Fun centres are mobile entertainment units consisting of a Nintendo Gamecube, DVD player, flatscreen LCD television, and preloaded games and movies.
Starlight state manager Chris Franks said the centres amused and distracted young patients during what can otherwise be an exhausting and scary time in hospital. He said they have proved so successful that the two initially donated to Dandenong Hospital in August 2004 were not enough.
“Since then we have donated anther two with the latest being sponsored by medical equipment company BD.
Mr Franks said the organisation could not support the whole $10,000 cost of the machines and sponsors played a vital role.
“Starlight wouldn’t have been able to deliver the fun centres if it wasn’t for the continued support of our corporate, community and trust partners,” he said.