Easing the Pain With the Launch of the Tracy Fun Centres

The boredom of inactivity, feelings of isolation and the physical and emotional pain felt by children undergoing treatment at the George Hospital, is set to change today with the launch of the Tracy Fun Centre, a mobile audio-visual trolley that will bring hours of entertainment to seriously ill children confined to hospital beds or wards.

Inge Human of the Reach For A Dream Foundation says together with electronic supplier Yodata, which is assisting with the design and assembly of the Tracy Fun Centres as well as sourcing the necessary components, the Foundation is installing a number of these units in different wards in various hospitals, in under-privileged areas around the country for the children's enjoyment.

The launch at George Hospital is taking place in the Pediatric Ward, where children will get to experience for themselves the new Tracy Fun Centres - carefully designed, well engineered, robust and colourful units containing a TV monitor, DVD player and Sony Playstation with a wide range of games. We also planned the launch before the world cup so that the children in hospital can be part of the festivities and celebrations watched by millions she says.

Medical staff around the country agree that the provision of a suitably distracting entertainment for children in hospital can help them cope better with physical and emotional pain, stress, isolation, damaged self esteem, boredom and anxiety caused as a result of their illnesses and long stays in hospital.

According to Human, the Tracy Fun Centres are named after a very special and courageous teenager who, despite suffering from and eventually dying of Rhabdomysarcoma, touched the hearts of everyone she came into contact with.

Tracy was just 19 years old when she passed away on August 21st 1998, and we at Reach for a Dream feel this is an appropriate way to honour someone whose bravery and strength serve as an inspiration to us all, she said.

At present, Human says that as part of a renewal process, each of the 36 units currently installed in hospitals throughout South Africa will be improved and renewed with the help of Yodata.

The Tracy Fun Centres are enjoyed and appreciated so much by both the children and the staff, and represent an important tool that our Foundation uses to reach out to so many children who are confined to hospital beds for weeks at a time and help make their stay and their lives a little easier, she concludes.

About Reach for a Dream

The Reach for a Dream Foundation is a Non Profit Organisation that fulfils the dreams of children faced with life threatening illnesses. Reach For A Dream believes in the power of dreams and encourages children to use theirs to fight their life-threatening illnesses. Potential sponsors are invited to contact Inge Human of PE Branch and help make a dream come true.