Radio Lollipop Signs On Christchurch Television Star

Media Release

Radio Lollipop

19 April 2013

Radio Lollipop Signs On Christchurch Television Star As Ambassador

Radio Lollipop Christchurch today announced television personality, Erin Simpson, as its charity ambassador.

Radio Lollipop is an international charity that provides comfort, music and entertainment to children in hospital through volunteers and radio stations. The charity is currently targeting a launch in Canterbury to service children at the Christchurch Hospital.

Christchurch-based Director, Barrie Cooper, said, “it’s a massive boost to the organisation to have someone with Erin’s credentials on-board. She has a caring spirit and has such a natural connection with children,”

Last week, Erin had the opportunity to meet earthquake survivor Abigail Walls and her father, Tristan. Abigail Walls, a then six-year-old child, was buried alive along with her mother in the rubble of Christchurch’s City Mall. Abbie suffered crush injuries, a traumatic brain injury, liver lacerations, a broken jaw and cuts to her face and scalp.

Abbie was flown to Auckland's Starship Hospital where she lay in and out of her coma for five days.

“We were told to expect the worst,” said Tristan Wallis. “We were informed that if she made it through, she wouldn’t wake up being the same Abbie we knew.”

When Abbie woke from the coma, the only form of therapy that was suitable to her recovery was an hour of radio, streamed by Radio Lollipop everyday.

“We had to make sure she wasn’t overly stimulated because of her brain injury. So everyday we would cuddle up on her hospital bed and listen to Radio Lollipop and she would become so relaxed,” Tristan added.

Cooper, said, “Radio Lollipop is more than just fun and games. It is really helpful clinically – a calm and happy child recovers better,”

“We’ve had such a wonderful response around the world and believe Christchurch children deserve the chance to receive the same benefits.”

Radio Lollipop seek support for broadcast vehicle

In order to deliver this great service in Christchurch Radio Lollipop is seeking support to help secure and kit out a special Radio Lollipop vehicle—the first in the world. The pressures on physical space within Christchurch Hospital necessitate an innovative solution for a broadcast facility.

“A mobile facility in the form of a campervan or bus (delete) seems like the perfect alternative to a traditional studio within the hospital itself and will allow for Radio Lollipop to be accessed by other hospital facilities around Canterbury as and when appropriate” said Cooper. “Our current challenge is to secure a sponsor or donor for the vehicle.”

Volunteers required

Radio Lollipop is also looking for 40 extraordinary Cantabrians to join the extended family that has now reached almost 9,500 volunteers. Volunteers visit the children in the wards with games and activities and often organise theme evenings and special guests. The programme runs between 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, initially starting with two to three nights a week expanding to five nights as we grow and the need grows.

People interested in becoming a Radio Lollipop volunteer need to:

· Be willing to attend an information evening on Monday 22 March

· Be over the age of 18 years, mature, reliable and fun

· A commitment of one night a week for no less than 12 months.

For more information about how you can donate or become a volunteer, please visit http://www.radiolollipop.org

About Radio Lollipop

Radio Lollipop first began in 1979 at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Surrey, England. Due to the tremendous success of the program, Radio Lollipop has since spread to more than 17 hospitals throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. At most Radio Lollipop sites there is a fully equipped in-house radio station, a team of volunteers involve the patients in recreational activities linked to radio programs that are child-focused and filled with mentally stimulating fun and games. Volunteer deejays play Top 40 hits and children’s favorites, take call-in requests, and put kids “on air“ from the bedside or in the studio. Broadcast internally several times per week, each program may feature games, art projects, interviews with local celebrities and contests in which kids can win prizes.

The iconic radio station already streams into Auckland and Whangarei hospitals.

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