Charities & Causes

Clown Doctors & The Humour Foundation

Charities & Causes

Posted by: The Fog

30th Nov 2010 10:08am

The only worthwhile Charity that I now support on a regular basis is The Humour Foundation & its core project, the Clown Doctors. A couple of years ago, I saw a couple of the Clown Doctors attending a young girl with cancer & they had her laughing throughout her chemo preparations. It warmed up the cockles of my old heart.

The Humour Foundation, a national charity, was established in 1997 to promote the health benefits of humour. The Clown Doctors programs are established in all major children’s hospitals around Australia. Worldwide research has definitely demonstrated the health benefits of humour.

Clown Doctors attend to the psycho-social needs of the hospitalised child. They cleverly parody the hospital routine to help children adapt to being in a hospital. They distract children during painful or frightening procedures. They dispense doses of fun and laughter and help children forget for a moment that they are ill. Everyone benefits…patients, families and staff. Clown Doctors are highly skilled professionals and work in partnership with health professionals.

If anyone is interested in looking at their website it is http://www.humourfoundation.com.au/

I guess, unintentionally, I am breaking one of the four "Do Not" rules by "advertising" this Charity's existence. They really cannot afford advertising campaigns as, without any form of Government assistance, they rely upon public charity (at least it is tax deductible, I suppose).

suzieq
  • 14th Jan 2011 01:55am

I have to agree with you that the Clown Doctors are doing a great job with our children i hospitals. I work at Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth and see them at different areas of the hospital and they are always very happy and cheerful, making the kids laugh and getting them involved in lots of fun play and activities.


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