On Thursday 5 June we celebrated the biggest day of Sydney Sick Kids Appeal – Sydney Sick Kids Day! On Sydney Sick Kids Day, we come together to remember that every child in hospital is a childhood on hold – and commit to doing all we can to change the future for sick kids. Thanks to the generosity of our community of supporters, this year we raised an incredible $8.1 million and counting to fund treatment, research and experiences for sick kids across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, comprising Sydney’s two children’s hospitals, Bear Cottage, NETS and Kids Research.

The day kicked off with a very special performance at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead from SCHF Ambassador Emma Memma, who met with excited patients and families afterwards to sign autographs and take photos.

At both hospitals, our Art Program were on hand to hand out drawing packs to kids taking part in a dreamy art competition. Thanks to ACCO and Dashing, kids were asked to draw their dreams, and patients at both children’s hospitals took their imaginations outside their hospital rooms. From flying cars to unicorns, the competition shone a light on the magical dreams of kids in hospital.

From the hospital wards to Sydney Harbour, this Sydney Sick Kids Appeal has been all about dreams, and nothing has shown this more than our partnership with Vivid Sydney, where the theme this year has been ‘Dream’. SCHF was honoured to be chosen as Charity Partner for the 2025 event, with our own light activation, Dream Scene, at Darling Harbour, and Sydney Sick Kids Day this year was our festival highlight.

While the activation has been full of kids and families every evening, drawing their dreams and having them projected onto the interactive animation, on Sydney Sick Kids Day, some special celebrity guests added their dreams to the activation. Players from the Sydney Swans including Riak Andrew and ambassador Logan McDonald, as well as Emma Memma arrived to meet fans and take part in the activation.

One of the extra special guests at the activation this week was six-year-old Bec. One of our patient ambassadors for the Appeal, Bec was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at just four years old, and as she joined in and added her drawing to the activation, it was a powerful reminder that all the fun, celebrity performances and visits are all to help kids just like her. Bec has been a patient at the IBD clinic at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead since she was diagnosed, and while the journey for her will be life-long, the support of the clinic has been incredibly important in making a difficult journey much easier. The vital funds raised on Sydney Sick Kids Day, and throughout the Appeal, will go to support Bec and so many more children facing their own journeys with illness and injury.

Channel 7, our media partners for the Sydney Sick Kids Appeal, were on-hand all day to capture the key moments at both hospitals, with ambassador Mark Ferguson visiting patients at Westmead, as well as capturing all the activity at the SCHF installation at Vivid Sydney.

Wherever you were in the city, at Vivid Sydney, watching along at home thanks to Channel 7, or seeing us on social media, Sydney Sick Kids Day was a day for the whole community. Even early morning commuters at Sydney’s major train stations were part of the day, with long-time SCHF supporters Fire and Rescue NSW shaking donation buckets and greeting workers on their way to the city. Every little collected helps to change the future for sick kids.

In a stunning end to Sydney Sick Kids Day, SCHF CEO Kristina Keneally announced the final total – an incredible $8.1 million and counting - against a background of colourful Vivid lights. 

The incredible fundraising total will make a huge difference to kids across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and beyond.

"These funds will help the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network respond quickly to emerging needs, supporting innovations in treatment, upgrading essential equipment, and improving the experience for children and families across the network,” says Kristina.
 
"To every donor, supporter and volunteer: thank you. Your unwavering commitment means every child in hospital can receive the best possible care, wherever and whenever they need it. 
 
"When we come together, we truly can take childhoods off hold. This result is a powerful reminder of the compassion and generosity that defines our community and I’m deeply grateful to stand alongside you as we work to change the future for every sick kid."

There are still three weeks left of Sydney Sick Kids Appeal. Be part of our community of supporters, make a tax-deductible donation today and help us change the future for sick kids.