Starlight Children’s Foundation

Laura's page

Laura & Jason Lennon

Laura & Jason Lennon

My Story

Jason (my dad!) is running the Sheffield half marathon on 29th March in support of my fund raising efforts for the Starlight Children's Foundation at the London Marathon.

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

I work as a health play specialist at Nottingham children's hospital and I absolutely love my job! 
The role of a play specialist is diverse however my main responsibility is aiming to work through trauma done to children in hospital. I hear day in and out from patients "I was held down" "they pinned me down" and "I didn't know what was happening". 
I truly believe that play specialist involvement in procudres in hospital  minimises if not avoids trauma completely. 

Starlight are a charity that are fightining to have play specialist involvement a mandatory part of every child's hospital journey - making it a safer and more playful place! 
I have seen firsthand and worked with starlight closely to see what positive impact they have on children in hospital. 

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
90%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £2,249
  • Number of donors
    71

My Story

Jason (my dad!) is running the Sheffield half marathon on 29th March in support of my fund raising efforts for the Starlight Children's Foundation at the London Marathon.

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

I work as a health play specialist at Nottingham children's hospital and I absolutely love my job! 
The role of a play specialist is diverse however my main responsibility is aiming to work through trauma done to children in hospital. I hear day in and out from patients "I was held down" "they pinned me down" and "I didn't know what was happening". 
I truly believe that play specialist involvement in procudres in hospital  minimises if not avoids trauma completely. 

Starlight are a charity that are fightining to have play specialist involvement a mandatory part of every child's hospital journey - making it a safer and more playful place! 
I have seen firsthand and worked with starlight closely to see what positive impact they have on children in hospital. 

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.