December 2011 21/12/2011
 
And how we laughed!

On Monday, four warm and generous Sydneysiders joined me in grabbing a very short window of opportunity - 20 or so minutes of respite from the rain - to laugh. And laugh we did.

I decided to hold a Laughter Yoga session on my birthday in support of the Humour Foundations' Clown Doctors. They do an amazing job cheering up some of our youngest and oldest hospital patients when they're at their most vulnerable. Taking the mickey out of something scary and potentially invasive makes it seem all the more do-able.

They already visit over 100,000 patients a year across the country but really want to be able to head to the hospitals seven days a week. Are you able to help them? 

By making a donation, you can help the Clown Doctors visit even more children in hospital more often and bring them the gift of laughter during stressful and scary moments.

Visit www.gofundraise.com.au/pages/JollyJude and bring joy and relief to thousands of sick children. What a great Christmas present - to yourself or someone you care about!

And to Camilla, Joy, Frances and Matt, thanks for braving the storm... literally! Ho ho ha ha ha! Thanks also to the Chinese tourists and young girl who joined in for a bit too.

Wishing you all a safe, peaceful and fun Festive Season filled with laughter and love. 

Thank you so much for your support over the past year and beyond.

Best,
Judith
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December 2011 13/12/2011
 
Let's laugh together!

On 19 December it's my birthday and, since I had to miss my original December challenge - the Mud Run - owing to ill health, I thought 'what better way to make it up and celebrate at the same time than to laugh?'!

Years ago I attended a workshop by Dr Kataria, a medical doctor and the founder of Laughter Yoga, and learned all about the benefits of laughter. It's amazing how much of a boost a good laugh can give your body!

And no-one knows this better than the Clown Doctors from The Humour Foundation who visit children with serious illnesses and give them some light, comic relief. 

According to their website, Clown Doctors address the psychosocial needs of the child in hospital in a unique way. By parodying the hospital routine, the Clown Doctors help children feel less traumatised by medical procedures. Oversized medical equipment, 'red-nose' transplants, 'cat' scans, humour checks and funny bone examinations are all part of the fun. By exaggerating intimidating jargon and procedures, fear and anxiety are reduced.

How marvellous! 

I'm sure if you have ever had a seriously ill child in hospital, you'd know how much a visit by one of the Clown Doctors might have made.

Here's how you can help: donate here, or come along to my 30-minute free Laughter Yoga session in Hyde Park on Monday at 1.15pm (meeting at the Archibald Fountain - opposite St Mary's Cathedral) and make a donation there. Or donate here *and* come and laugh! OR donate here, come and laugh AND make a donation there *grin*

It'd be fantastic to get a large, raucous, giggling, guffawing crowd together.

And don't worry, it isn't yoga in the traditional sense - the yogic component is the breathwork of laughing. There will be no bendy movements... unless you feel so compelled!

Feel free to invite others :)

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