Christmas is a precious time that should be filled with laughter, play and joyful memories. Unfortunately, for thousands of sick kids receiving care across Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, this time of year is filled with appointments instead of playdates and hospital stays instead of sleepovers.

These kids are too ill or injured to be where they want to be - at home surrounded by their family and that magical festive spirit they desperately want to be a part of. Instead, many spend Christmas in a ward, treatment room, or outreach centre.

This holiday season, it’s our mission to change the future for sick kids and to do this, we need your support.

Today Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) launched its annual Christmas Appeal, aiming to raise millions of dollars to support the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN), including Sydney’s two children’s hospitals at Westmead and Randwick. Running from now until December 25, the appeal invites you to help give these children what they deserve most—a chance to be kids again.

Out-of-this-world experiences for sick kids

To celebrate the start of the appeal, SCHF and the Australian Space Agency joined forces to bring the wonders of space and STEM to some patients at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, who may not make it home for Christmas this year. These young patients became astronauts for the morning, building rockets, exploring STEM, and launching into the world of creativity and science alongside Australia’s own astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, who encouraged them to imagine endless possibilities for their futures.

“Inspiring kids is at the heart of my work as an Australian astronaut, and it is an immense privilege to meet these young Aussie heroes,” Ms Bennell-Pegg said.

“As a mother of two daughters, it is incredibly moving to spend time with these brave young kids and to excite them about space, which can be the ultimate playground for their imagination.”

Give a lifesaving gift this Christmas  

Donations to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation Christmas Appeal can help provide new equipment, training and education, groundbreaking research, or state-of-the-art facilities to help get sick kids back to the childhood they deserve. A donation to SCHF this season doesn’t just support sick kids today—it gives them a chance at a healthier tomorrow. 

Together, we can change the future for sick kids.