Fun with the Sunshine Children

Sunshine Children, their family members and
 Interact Club members join Bean the clown-magician
in an action song at the celebration

The lobby of the Pediatric ward in Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) was filled with the sounds of fun and laughter as members of the Rotary Club of Johor Straits View celebrated new year and birthdays with the Sunshine Children recently.  

Some 40 children afflicted with cancer and young patients with renal failure, and their parents were treated to a magic show by Bean the clown-magician and presented with sculptured balloons and small gifts.  The smiles on the children’s faces as they sang along and took part in the magician’s tricks, was clearly a brief respite from their daily routine and treatments that may be painful and uncomfortable. 

The Rotary Club of Johor Straits View have been involved with community activities since 1998 and organised annual outdoor trips and parties to give cheer and hope to the Sunshine Children.  With the support from friends and the corporate sector, the club successful organised two walkathons in 1999 and 2005 to raise funds for the Sunshine Children.  Previous activities with the children include going on an evening cruise at Danga Bay, an overnight stay at Desaru Beach Resort and enjoying a Disney World Show in Singapore.

The children sing-along with members of the Interact Club
to the familiar tune of, Let It Go, from the movie, Frozen

Initially, the club used to organise an annual outing or party with the Sunshine Children in Hospital Sultanah Aminah and more recently, the club regularly held events with HSI.  Secondary school students in Interact Clubs are also involved with the club’s community activities as part of their education programme to inculcate an attitude of care and concern for the old and ill people in hospitals, homes and children shelters.

“It’s so good to see the children enjoying themselves,” said Club President, Wong Yoke Chin, who was at the event to encourage the parents with children who are ill.  

Members of the Rotary Johor Straits View club
singing Happy Birthday with the Sunshine Children

While goody bags filled with fun and essential items were distributed to the participants, Wong and club members also presented goody bags to patients in the ward who could not join the activities held in the lobby.  After enjoying a buffet spread, the children were invited to sing Happy Birthday and celebrated their birthdays with a cake decorated in the theme of popular animated movie, Frozen.  

In fact, several girls among the Sunshine Children were dressed in Princess Elsa outfits and T-shirts printed with the characters from this popular movie.  Just as Princess Elsa struggles with a mighty secret, the Sunshine Children are also fighting their own battles against illnesses.  The party ended with the children and their families taking photo mementoes to a backdrop designed with balloon sculptures that resembled characters from the movie, Frozen.

/pl