A leading financial institution has teamed up with a well-known charity organisation that visits sick children in order to raise awareness of their rib-tickling good work.
The Humour Foundation is the Australian charity responsible for keeping the nation's clown doctors spreading fun times to hospitals and clinics around the country.
Founded in 1996 at the Royal Hobart Hospital, these 'madcap medicos' have spread joy and fun across hundreds of thousands of patients in major children's hospitals in every state and territory each year.
They work to help young people deal with the fear and anxiety that comes from being in a medical institution for an extended period of time by mimicking and satirising standard procedures - with "cat scans" and "red nose transplants" helping to take the edge off what could be described as a trying experience.
Filling this 'psychosocial' need for humour and entertainment is not an easy task and requires the services of talented professionals - and the 'funbulance' does not run on chuckles alone.
In recognition of the services they provide to the wider community, the Commonwealth Bank has been supporting the Australian clown doctors with its Staff Community Fund since 1997.
The financial powerhouse says that in 2012 it is planning on raising over $250,000 for the Humour Foundation, which will cover the cost of an additional two performers to brighten the lives of an additional 16,000 ill children for an entire working year.
As such, Commonwealth Bank is hosting a very special charity event called Smile Day at Luna Park in Sydney on April 1 - an appropriate date - where the first 300 people through the gates can receive a day of unlimited rides in exchange for a cheesy grin and a generous donation.
The funds raised will be used to help the likes of Dr Have-a-Chat, Dr Fruit-Loop and Dr Doctor take their special skill-sets on wider tours - ensuring the funbulance gets around to as many children as possible.
Charity cofounder Dr Peter Spitzer - who regularly takes part in the performances - explained that the application of "diversion therapy" can help patients experiencing pain and isolation to deal with their situation.
"This Smile Day, we invite Sydney families to join us at Luna Park for a day filled with laughter so that we may continue bringing this spirit of fun to sick children all over Australia," said the doctor.
