Sandy the Sea Turtle supports Starlight

No. 1 Plush Toy Raises Funds forStarlight Children's Foundation

Australia's No. 1 selling plush toy, PILLOW PETs, are set to raise funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation, helping to put smiles on the faces of seriously ill children across the country.

The fundraising PILLOW PET, Sandy the Sea Turtle, was designed by 11 year old Chloe who was diagnosed with Herpes Encephalitis, commonly known as 'cold sores on the brain', when she was just 20 months old.

Following a family trip to the Great Barrier Reef provided by Starlight, Chloe was inspired and submitted a drawing of a sea turtle. Melbourne- based Funtastic used Chloe's design to create a PILLOW PET in Starlight's honour.

According to Chloe, she was 'AMAZED!!' when she first saw the finished PILLOW PET. "I will cuddle it for my whole life and use her for a lovely soft pillow," Chloe said.

An animal lover who thinks sea turtles are really cool, Chloe has kept her 'toy-designer' status a secret from friends, waiting to wow them with the news when Sandy the Sea Turtle hits shops.

Available from 29 October through Toys R Us for $19.95ea, $5.00 from every sale of the Sandy the Sea Turtle PILLOW PET will go directly to Starlight to help in their work with seriously ill children and their families.

According to Funtastic's CEO Stewart Downs, PILLOW PETS were launched in Australia just over 12 months ago and have been the No.1 selling plush almost from the word go.

"As the Australian intellectual property rights owner to PILLOW PETS, it made sense for us to create a PILLOW PET especially for Starlight," Stewart said. "Funtastic has long been a supporter of Starlight. We are always on the lookout for creative ways we can help them in the course of our business."

Starlight Children's Foundation CEO, Louise Baxter says, "The sad reality is that everyminute of every day a child is admitted to hospital in Australia, but with the help ofsupporters like Funtastic, Starlight can continue to deliver our programs 7 days a week in all major paediatric hospitals across Australia."

PILLOW PETS are Australia's No. 1 plush toy according to NPD Group Australia OzToys. With more than 23% of the Australian plush toy market, PILLOW PETS sales far outstrip its competitors. Nearly three times the number of PILLOW PETS sold last week than their nearest competitor.*

PILLOW PETS mania continues to spread, with the soft and cuddly pet that doubles asa pillow selling like hotcakes across the country - in the lead up to Christmas 2011,one Australian retailer sold 35,000 in just one week.

"PILLOW PETS provide kids with fun, comforting buddies, and parents with a clever,practical, solution," Stewart said. "The tight economic climate means families areultimately looking for value, not just the cheapest price."

PILLOW PETS combine the utility of a pillow with the playfulness of a stuffed animal. Made of ultra-soft chenille, PILLOW PETS are an ideal travel pal, naptime buddy and all-round snuggly friend.

For customer enquiries or more stockist information on PILLOW PETS please contactFuntastic's free-call Customer Care Line on 1800 244 543.

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* According to NPD Group Australia OzToys, Plush Category, Top 50 Brands, for WeekEnding 30 September 2012.