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Games 2014

Lollipop virtually circumnavigates the globe
1 July 2014  

Radio Lollipop – whose Playmakers use Play & Radio to help sick children cope with being in hospital – is clocking up over 28,000 virtual miles (45,000 km) linking all 29 Radio Lollipop hospitals around the world. The Miles for Smiles project will celebrate Radio Lollipop’s 35 years with Playmakers, doctors, nurses, child patients and their families all walking, running, riding, swimming etc. for a year-long global promotion and fundraiser.
Starting in Dundee, Scotland the virtual journey will travel from the UK (via Cape Town) to Australia, NZ, the USA and back to Dundee. On the way Radio Lollipop plans to raise much needed support and funds to continue their highly valued charity work. Anyone interested in supporting this endeavor can help either by making a donation at www.radiolollipop.org. or organising their own Miles for Smiles activity.

To mark its anniversary Radio Lollipop recently held an International Conference in London. In reviewing the past 35 years it was proudly noted they had:

  • helped more than 5 million sick children
  • trained over 10,000 volunteer Playmakers
  • donating over 32 million hours of play support
  • created over 4 million craft and play activities

Studies show that Radio Lollipop delivers three major benefits:

  • Emotional – the children feel better;
  • Clinical – patients request less pain relief and can get better faster;
  • Financial – less pain medication usage provides real savings for stretched hospital budgets.

“The achievement of 35 years is a major milestone for the all-volunteer charity in supporting the children and we feel privileged to be a part of the healing process.”  Bruce Uhlhorn, Chairperson, Radio Lollipop International

The first Radio Lollipop was established in 1979 at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Carshalton, Surrey – as a one-off project. At that time, Queen Mary’s was the largest children’s hospital in Europe with over 460 beds in 36 wards on a 92 acre site. The concept was accepted and grew and although Carshalton has since closed, Radio Lollipop is now in 29 children’s hospitals throughout the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Monitor the progress and help us by donating “miles” (or money!) to make it round all Radio Lollipop stations.

Location: Global