HUNDREDS of seriously ill children have enjoyed a memorable fun-filled day out.

Around 500 children with serious and terminal illnesses, along with their families, attended the 18th Starlight Escape Day at Popham Airfield with plenty of fun including rides on helicopters, hovercrafts and motorbikes.

The four-hour event provides children, along with parents, grandparents and siblings, the chance to enjoy a family day out. Many of the families attending are unable to go on family trips and holidays due to the illness.

In addition to the rides on helicopters, hovercrafts, motorbikes and fire engines, arts and crafts, face painting, games and an animal petting zoo also kept children entertained.

Louise Wilson, who lives in Camford Close, Beggarwood, Basingstoke, bought along son Jayden, who is five.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Jayden was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour last September, and parents Michael and Louise were told that he had only 12 months to live.

Louise told The Gazette: “It has been a year since he was diagnosed so all of this is an extra bonus. The consultants can’t believe how well he is doing. Today has been a really good day.”

Parents Tim and Sam Smith, of O’Bee Gardens, in Baughurst, bought along three of their four children – Connor, 10, Owen, seven, and two-year-old Kyra.

Seven-year-old Owen has to take up to 60 tablets a day after he was born with cystic fibrosis and was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis – a muscle weakening condition when he was just three.

Mum Sam said: “This is a brilliant event, and it is well organised. It is nice to come out. Because Owen has so many medicines, it is hard to get out so it is nice to be here.”

Neil Swan, chief executive of Starlight, said: “For some of these children, this is the only day out because they are stuck in hospices and hospitals and for their families it is really tough. They have got little or nothing to look forward to, so when they get the invitation to come here, it is very special.

“In a family with a poorly child, there is a tendency for the focus to go on the child and their siblings often miss out and the whole family suffers.

“On a day like today, the whole family can relax and there is something for everybody to do.”