From hospital wards to city lights, the 2025 Sydney Sick Kids Appeal saw the community come together for a common cause – to help the thousands of kids who spend time in hospital each year. And thanks to your generosity, the appeal was a huge success. Running from 5 May to 30 June, this year’s Appeal has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over nearly two months, we saw schools, workplaces, families and entire communities come together to fund life-changing treatment, groundbreaking research and joyful experiences for children supported by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network — including Sydney’s two children’s hospitals at Westmead and Randwick, Bear Cottage, NETS, and Kids Research. 

At the heart of the Appeal was a powerful message: every child in hospital is a childhood on hold. And thanks to the kindness and commitment of our supporters, together we’ve pressed play on the future of sick kids. 

This year, SCHF was proud to be the official Charity Partner of Vivid Sydney 2025, with the festival theme of ‘Dream’ perfectly echoing the heart of our Appeal. At Tumbalong Park, our custom-built light installation Dream Scene invited visitors to draw their dreams and watch them come to life in light alongside artwork by young patients from across our hospitals. 

Over the course of the Appeal, thousands of people visited the installation – kids and families took part together, and visitors to Vivid Sydney were reminded of the importance of play, imagination and joy, even in the face of illness. 

While the Appeal ran for weeks, Thursday 5 June marked our biggest and brightest day — Sydney Sick Kids Day. It was a celebration of everything the Appeal stands for. 

At the hospitals, kids took part in a special art competition supported by ACCO and Dashing, bringing their dream worlds to life on paper. Patients were treated to a live performance by Ambassador Emma Memma and the Vivid Sydney activation saw visits from celebrity guests, who added their artworks to the dreamscape.  Everyone who submitted their designs on Sydney Sick Kids Day went in the draw to win a dreamy prize generously donated by Soak Bathhouse. 

Meanwhile our partner Fire and Rescue NSW shook buckets at two CBD stations and Channel 7 were on hand to cover the day’s events.

Funds raised through the Sydney Sick Kids Appeal goes to the frontline of kids’ health. It helps fund world-class treatment, cutting-edge research and experiences that help kids through their hospital journey. 

It means more breakthroughs like CAR T-cell therapy, the treatment which gave Josh - once preparing for palliative care - the chance to enter remission and live a full, joyful teenage life.

It means more support for children like Bec, who lives with Crohn’s disease, and whose care at Westmead’s IBD clinic has been life changing.

It means that Mateo, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, can take part in a clinical trial that is saving his life.

And it means that kids like Christopher, who become ill suddenly overnight, can access world-class care at any time, anywhere.

Your support means these and thousands of other sick and injured children across NSW will get the care and comfort they need, when and where they need it.

To every donor, fundraiser, volunteer, ambassador and corporate partner who made this Appeal possible: thank you.

“Your unwavering commitment means every child in hospital can receive the best possible care,” says SCHF CEO Kristina Keneally. “When we come together, we truly can take childhoods off hold.”

While Sydney Sick Kids Appeal has wrapped up, you can support the vital work of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network every day. Donate today to help change the future for sick kids.