Lovely to hear from Kathy Simpson and Don Cowie this morning with regards to the Starlight Project being administered in Auckland by RC Parnell. . Kathy is about change and working towards StarLight being a National Trust at all hospitals and needs help from Rotary Clubs. Started in 2000 StarLight operates in Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North and Auckland distributing gifts all year round.

Don Cowie Rotary Club of Parnell has encompassed the project of 58 Patient support through the Charitable Trust StarLight at Te Whetu Tawera, in Auckland Hospital, which has 3 Psychiatric Wards in need of support.

Male and Female patients receive a small gift on arrival at the hospital. There has been growth in need and Kathy has delivered 6000 packs a year across the motu. We want to bring joy and hope to patients.

Kathy would like to deliver Christmas packs to 58 patients at Te Whetu Tawera costing $20-$25 each. She would like help in either goods or cash for her to buy them.

There is a Psychiatric unit at Middlemore Hospital.

Kathy told us her life experience of sexual abuse as a child, growing up getting married with children and living in Singapore. Then in 1990 divorce and return to New Zealand for intermittent treatment and care which involved more sexual abuse by medical staff. Several patients in the same care committed suicide. Through her courage on the care issues to the ACC where she was declared Medical Negligence: she got a rare apology, compensation and closure of the Mental Health House.

 Details on how to donate are below along with helplines to share.

Thought for the day “If you have a pulse you have a purpose”