Proserpine Mum Dives in for Starlight Swim Challenge

Local mum, business owner and soccer lover, Sonya Quod, is swimming 32 kilometres at Proserpine Pool this February to raise money for Starlight, a charity dedicated to bringing moments of joy to hospitalised children.

When we spoke to Sonya on Monday, she had just five days left of the challenge and was feeling the fatigue – but not letting it get in her way.

By committing to swim 22 lengths of the 50m pool every day for 28 days, Sonya has raised a whopping $5,534 for Starlight, a cause that is close to her heart.

Sonya’s then 11-year-old daughter, Arista, became gravely ill after contracting mycoplasma pneumonia with a secondary mucositis infection.

She initially spent some time in Proserpine Hospital before being moved to Mackay, and eventually was airlifted by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Brisbane for life-saving treatment.

Arista’s hospital stay went on several months, and for a time she wasn’t allowed visitors. When this changed the Starlight Volunteers began visiting her, bringing much-needed brightness to an otherwise difficult time.

“They would come around to the rooms and do entertainment, they’d sing and dance, telling jokes and doing magic tricks,” Sonya explains.

“And they also had a Starlight Room where you could go with your kids to get a break from the hospital. It’s amazing. It’s so bright and bubbly, and there’s music… They’re just amazing at what they do. Everyone walked out of there with a smile on their face, no matter how sick they were.”

When Sonya saw Starlight’s Super Swim campaign on Facebook, she knew she wanted to get involved.

“I've always been a water baby,” she says.

“That's why I thought I could do this challenge, even being busy as a mom and running the business. I thought, I can just do some laps, and that's my way of giving back.”

Alongside raising money for Starlight, Sonya says the challenge has been great training leading up to soccer season. With the pool also providing great exercise for Arista’s lungs following her sickness, Sonya’s spending even more time there, now working for Aquatic Rush, teaching little ones to swim.

Sonya is proud to be one of over 13,600 swimmers supporting the cause, and has even found herself in the Top 15 on the fundraiser leaderboard.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to my family and friends for their support throughout the challenge,” Sonya says.

“Some days I needed a little support crew to get me through. Also, thank you for the amazing donations – it has blown me away. It will go to the children and families doing it tough.”

To donate, and find more information about how you can support the cause, scan the QR code below.

1- Sonya Quod, super mum swimming for Starlight. Photo: Suzanna Mcloughlin

2 – Arista with the starlight entertainers bringing joy to Queensland Children’s Hospital. Photo supplied.

3 – Volunteers visit children in need of a smile. Photo supplied.

4 – Starlight arrives with a song, joke, or magic trick to make the hospital a brighter place. Photo supplied.

5 – Scan here to donate