Clown Doctors celebrate their 2nd Birthday

For immediate release

28th September 2011

Clown Doctors celebrate their 2nd Birthday by lighting up 15,020 little faces

Since the launch of the Clown Doctors in Christchurch Hospital in September 2009, the 16 strong team of clown ‘doctors’ have visited over 15,020 young patients in hospital wards across the country. They have spread their joy and laughter to an additional 8,360 staff and have visited another 5,600 people, both young and old, who suffered as a result of the devastating Christchurch earthquake in February this year. That is a total of 28,980 wounds made better with a simple smile: a worthy cause to celebrate.

Clown Doctors New Zealand is a group of professional clowns trained to the highest international standards in the art of medical clowning. They visit and entertain sick children in hospital with the aim of providing a positive emotional boost to the young patients, their families and to hospital staff. Their job is to induce laughter and smiles to reduce the gravity, stress and fear that is often associated with being in hospital.

Dr Richard Aickin, Director of Child Health at Auckland District Health Board was instrumental in introducing the programme to Starship in September 2010. "There is a really strong link between how you feel and how your body heals and that's regardless of what the underlying disease is. So, if you're feeling more confident, more cheerful and more optimistic then you are more likely to have a better outcome”, says Dr Aickin.

Clown Doctors Founder & CEO Prof. Thomas Petschner, lives by the philosophy that seven days without laughter makes one weak. “Our vision is to lift the spirits of children in hospital and to tease out 1 million smiles by our 10th Birthday in September 2019. We are delighted to celebrate our 2nd Birthday and extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has helped us spread the healing power of laughter up and down the country, including Tradestaff New Zealand, Red Noses International and the Canterbury Community Trust. Special thanks to the Starship Foundation our premium sponsor and The Warehouse, (Starship's Five Star Partner) for their valuable support”, says Prof. Petschner.

“Ultimately the more support we have, the more ‘clown doctors’ we can deploy to spread smiles, because as you know, smiles are very infectious” says Programme Director, Rita Noetzel who is on the hunt for more Clown Doctors with auditions being held in Christchurch on October 1st.

To make a donation, sponsor a clown doctor or to find out how you or your business can help to bring more smiles to sick children across the country, visit www.clowndoctors.org.nz.

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