When a child is seriously ill, everyone in the family is affected. Sometimes the daily struggles of caring for a sick child are so oppressive, the thought of leaving the house for a family event seems impossible.

Starlight understands what families go through when a child is sick, and the importance of breaking the cycle of depression and loneliness. The Great Escapes Program was created to provide families with a chance to spend recreational time together to relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope.

Feeling Both Normal and Extraordinarily Special

The variety of activities offered through Great Escapes is endless: movie screenings, harbour cruises, mother-daughter makeovers, sporting events, picnics and more. Starlight and our corporate partners and donors underwrite all event costs to make every Great Escapes an "all inclusive" affair, allowing families to relax and enjoy themselves while someone else worries about the details.

Everything about Great Escapes is designed to make a sick child feel extraordinarily special, from the personalized invitations to being greeted by name at every event. But more importantly, Great Escapes also makes the children feel incredibly normal as they experience fun activities in a friendly, accepting environment. Starlight children also report feeling good that they are the reason their family gets to enjoy an unexpected treat - rather than another unexpected crisis.

Parents frequently cite Great Escapes experiences as truly therapeutic, giving courage and energy to all family members. In recently conducted focus groups commissioned with parents, sick children and siblings, families reported that Great Escapes also provide:

• A sense of hope for the future
• Valuable connections with others facing similar challenges and "emotional companionship" for the journey
• Priceless family memories away from hospital or clinical settings; for some families, Great Escapes are among the last outings they'll have with their sick child
• Rare opportunities for social and interpersonal interaction

At Great Escapes, family members are able to meet others who are facing similar challenges and who can relate to their circumstances, reducing their feelings of isolation. This community-building bolsters spirits, provides outlets for buried emotions and creates a vital support system during the most difficult times in a family's life. Starlight families make lasting connections through Great Escapes - connections that endure through medical treatments, the hope and despair of serious illness, and even the tragic loss of a child.

Click here to see our Santa Flight to the North Pole 2009!

To learn more about eligibility requirements or to receive an application form please click here

The Great Escapes program is supported by a wide variety of in-kind donations and cash contributions. It is a valuable investment and a chance for community involvement that yields tremendous rewards for both the corporate sponsor or donor and the many deserving Starlight families they host. To provide support for Great Escapes, click here.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GREAT ESCAPES SPONSORS AND DONORS. WITH YOUR SUPPORT STARLIGHT CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER SMILES AND LAUGHTER TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.