No one wants a child to suffer. Unfortunately for those with Sickle Cell Disease, there is no cure. This red blood cell mutating disease is inherited by children and can lead to a life of health complications and painful medical treatments.
In the United States, sickle cell anemia affects about 70,000 people. It mainly affects African Americans, with the condition occurring in about 1 in every 500 African American births.
Colgate-Palmolive and Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation have teamed up this year to help children with Sickle Cell Disease and their families cope with the pain, fear and isolation of this terrible disease. By providing FUN CENTERS in hospitals, these children can forget about their illnesses for a moment and remember how to have fun.
Fun Centers are mobile units that provide endless entertainment and help turn worry into laughter and weariness into delight! Fun Centers feature a flat screen monitor, DVD player and a Nintendo® Wii. The Centers roll right up to a child’s bedside to provide hours of game play and movie watching.
Voting has closed!
Thanks for your support! We’re sending every participating hospital a Fun Center of their own.
Congratulations to Children’s Hospital of Michigan, which had the most votes and will receive an additional Fun Center.
We asked you to "Show the Love" by voting for a hospital to receive a Fun Center. The outpouring of support has been wonderful, and Colgate-Palmolive is awarding all nine participating hospitals a Fun Center!
To learn more about Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation,
go to www.starlight.org
Check the voting results in each city.
Go now!
Stories to smile about
From a nurse and child life specialist:
This morning a six year-old patient who has had problems with breathing treatments allowed the respiratory therapist to complete his treatment while he was using the Fun Center. He truly did not notice the therapist or breathing mask!
From a nurse in Maine:
The new fun center is a huge hit!! The first person who used it was confined to the bed and so bored. I gave him the job of test piloting the new system. He gave it rave reviews, as did his Mother.
From a hospital volunteer:
Each time I wheel the Fun Center into the child’s room, it just makes their day. It’s amazing that something that might seem a little trivial to us (movies/games) can absolutely make a child’s day that is in the hospital.
