Starlight Children’s Foundation

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Caroline Palfrey

Caroline Palfrey

My Story

I'm running the London Marathon 2026 as part of Team Starlight!

Hi, I’m Caroline, and I’m a 22 year old physiotherapist living in Dorset, UK.

Back in 2012, when I was just 8 years old, mine and my family’s lives were turned upside down when I suffered a C2 spinal stroke and was paralysed down my right side. This resulted in many months in Southampton General Hospital for tests, procedures, and rehabilitation. All I wanted to do was walk, write my name, play my violin and do a cartwheel! A big ask under the circumstances! It was an incredibly scary time for all of us; including my younger brother, who was only 6 at the time.

Throughout all my time in and out of hospital growing up, I was so lucky to be supported by the most incredible doctors, nurses and therapists, as well as play specialists, who had a pivotal role in my recovery.

While I was in hospital recovering from my stroke, my family was approached by Starlight, who understand the importance of play for children during difficult times. They invited my family and me on a day out where we took part in all sorts of amazing activities that children like me usually wouldn’t have been able to do. It also gave my younger brother the chance to have a day out with us as a family—something we hadn’t been able to do in a long time, which meant the world to us. Even now, over a decade later, it’s something we still talk about. We’ll forever be grateful to Starlight for that day.

Although Starlight aren’t currently able to run these days  due to funding, their work continues in hospitals, where they champion the vital role of play in helping children cope with serious illness.

During my time in hospital, I was lucky enough to be supported by some incredible play specialists who helped both me and my brother make sense of what was happening around us. Sadly, this isn’t the case in every hospital, and I know I was extremely fortunate to have access to this support where I lived in Southampton. These specialists helped me hugely with my rehab; focusing on mobility and fine motor skills through play in a fun, meaningful and child-focused way. Starlight are working to make this kind of play-focused care the norm in hospitals across the country.

As a child, I had an incredibly positive experience in hospital—something that could easily not have been the case. I truly believe the play staff had a vital role in that. Thirteen years later, inspired by the professionals who supported me, I now work as a physiotherapist in the NHS. It’s a career I likely wouldn’t have pursued if I hadn’t had such a positive experience in hospital. This highlights just how meaningful play in healthcare can be; it truly has the power to shape lives.

Running a marathon is something I never thought I’d be able to do. After my stroke, just standing and walking was a huge challenge and even now I've been left with a right sided weakness and leg length discrepancy. I hated PE growing up as due to my stroke I was never the fastest or the best, but in recent years I've learnt that I can go to the gym and run, and I don't need to compare myself to others who haven't been through what I have. This is my way of showing how far I’ve come, pushing myself and giving back to an incredible charity that supported my family through the most difficult time in our lives.

If you’re able to donate, share, or simply cheer me on, you’ll be helping bring play and moments of joy to children who truly need it—making a real difference to them and their families, and helping shape their futures.

Thank you so much!!! Caroline xxxx

The healing power of play

At first glance, it’s easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges. ​

​That’s why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child’s healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it’s official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child’s medical treatment plan. ​

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Raising for:

Starlight Children’s Foundation
102%

Funded

  • Target
    £5,000
  • Raised so far
    £5,084
  • Number of donors
    138

My Story

I'm running the London Marathon 2026 as part of Team Starlight!

Hi, I’m Caroline, and I’m a 22 year old physiotherapist living in Dorset, UK.

Back in 2012, when I was just 8 years old, mine and my family’s lives were turned upside down when I suffered a C2 spinal stroke and was paralysed down my right side. This resulted in many months in Southampton General Hospital for tests, procedures, and rehabilitation. All I wanted to do was walk, write my name, play my violin and do a cartwheel! A big ask under the circumstances! It was an incredibly scary time for all of us; including my younger brother, who was only 6 at the time.

Throughout all my time in and out of hospital growing up, I was so lucky to be supported by the most incredible doctors, nurses and therapists, as well as play specialists, who had a pivotal role in my recovery.

While I was in hospital recovering from my stroke, my family was approached by Starlight, who understand the importance of play for children during difficult times. They invited my family and me on a day out where we took part in all sorts of amazing activities that children like me usually wouldn’t have been able to do. It also gave my younger brother the chance to have a day out with us as a family—something we hadn’t been able to do in a long time, which meant the world to us. Even now, over a decade later, it’s something we still talk about. We’ll forever be grateful to Starlight for that day.

Although Starlight aren’t currently able to run these days  due to funding, their work continues in hospitals, where they champion the vital role of play in helping children cope with serious illness.

During my time in hospital, I was lucky enough to be supported by some incredible play specialists who helped both me and my brother make sense of what was happening around us. Sadly, this isn’t the case in every hospital, and I know I was extremely fortunate to have access to this support where I lived in Southampton. These specialists helped me hugely with my rehab; focusing on mobility and fine motor skills through play in a fun, meaningful and child-focused way. Starlight are working to make this kind of play-focused care the norm in hospitals across the country.

As a child, I had an incredibly positive experience in hospital—something that could easily not have been the case. I truly believe the play staff had a vital role in that. Thirteen years later, inspired by the professionals who supported me, I now work as a physiotherapist in the NHS. It’s a career I likely wouldn’t have pursued if I hadn’t had such a positive experience in hospital. This highlights just how meaningful play in healthcare can be; it truly has the power to shape lives.

Running a marathon is something I never thought I’d be able to do. After my stroke, just standing and walking was a huge challenge and even now I've been left with a right sided weakness and leg length discrepancy. I hated PE growing up as due to my stroke I was never the fastest or the best, but in recent years I've learnt that I can go to the gym and run, and I don't need to compare myself to others who haven't been through what I have. This is my way of showing how far I’ve come, pushing myself and giving back to an incredible charity that supported my family through the most difficult time in our lives.

If you’re able to donate, share, or simply cheer me on, you’ll be helping bring play and moments of joy to children who truly need it—making a real difference to them and their families, and helping shape their futures.

Thank you so much!!! Caroline xxxx

The healing power of play

At first glance, it’s easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges. ​

​That’s why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child’s healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it’s official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child’s medical treatment plan. ​

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.