6 August 2018

Five Whanganui Girls’ College students, their principal Tania King and Gabby’s Starlit Hope trustee Jessica Devane have gifted 48 Boredom Buster packs for children admitted to, or waiting in, Whanganui District Health Board’s Emergency Department (ED).

The five girls and seven of their fellow students from the same ASTRA class decided, as part of their community awhi project, to raise funds to support Gabby’s Starlit Hope charity established by 13-year-old New Plymouth school girl Gabby Devine.

Before Gabby died of bone cancer in May 2015, she touched many lives by carrying out 1000 random acts of kindness in the name of the Gabby’s Starlit Hope charity she set up while in remission.

Gabby’s mother Sarah, her father Roland and her younger brother Patrick, vowed to continue her charity to ensure children in need of cheering up received toys as Gabby would have wished them to. Originally from Whanganui, the Devine family made sure Whanganui Hospital was one of the five New Zealand hospitals where Gabby’s charity continues to bring smiles to the faces of unwell children.

When Whanganui Girls’ College approached Gabby’s mother and Gabby’s cousin Jess to let them know they had raised money for the Gabby’s Starlit Hope charity, the two decided the Boredom Buster bags would be great project to put the money towards.

ED clinical nurse manager Carla O’Keeffe was delighted with “this very kind gesture from the girls and charity”.