Good Friday Appeal on Friday 3 April 2026 marks 95 years of uniting our community for the love of our kids.

The Good Friday Appeal Campaign for 2026 launched at The Royal Children’s Hospital on Thursday 19 February.

At this event the Appeal announced the faces of this year’s campaign, Alissa and Oliver.

For the 95^th year of the iconic Good Friday Appeal, two special children have been chosen as the faces. Introducing six-year-old Oliver and 3-year-old Alissa; their incredible journeys of resilience and strength remind us why this renowned fundraiser matters. Their stories were unveiled at The Royal Children’s Hospital on Thursday 19 February 2026 as part of the Good Friday Appeal Launch.  

Oliver (Ollie), 6 years old:
For almost seven-year-old Oliver, life at The Royal Children’s Hospital began before he was born. His parents Jacinta and Darcy received the news that their unborn child was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Truncus Arteriosis. At just four weeks old, Oliver underwent open heart surgery and then again at two years old. Ollie’s mum Jacinta describes the support they’ve received from The Royal Children’s Hospital as all encompassing, “From the beginning it felt like we were surrounded by arms of support from pregnancy until now”.  

Like most young boys, Ollie adores hot wheels, lego, the weather and being outdoors with friends and family. If you catch him talking about his previous heart surgeries, he’ll be quick to show off his scar. And, if you want to make him move, then all you have to do is press play on the Harry Styles song, Golden. 

Alissa, 3 years old:
Alissa was on a holiday in Melbourne visiting her grandparents and family, when her parents took her to The Royal Children’s Hospital for persistent skin issues and ear infections that had previously been misdiagnosed multiple times. It was that visit at just four months old; Alissa was diagnosed with high-risk, multisystem Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) – a rare condition affecting only around one child per million. Within a few days of coming into the hospital, Alissa had started chemotherapy, and her more than a year long road to recovery began.  

Alissa celebrated many milestones across the halls of The Royal Children’s Hospital, including trying food for the first time and taking her first steps. Her dad Nick says, “We even celebrated her first birthday at the RCH, but everyone around us made it so special that we didn’t even think about the celebration being at a hospital. They even made a cake for her”. 

While Alissa also loves the song Golden, she also adores Chappel Roan’s Pink Pony Club. An avid learner, she loves to play with friends and family, being at the beach or in the water and like all of us, is a huge fan of Frozen.  

Oliver & Alissa’s incredible stories highlight the importance of the Good Friday Appeal and illustrate what the heart of the appeal is about; Victorians rallying over the last 95 years to help raise funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital ensuring every child has access to world class care.  

On this landmark year for the Good Friday Appeal, we celebrate through the unwavering dedication of generous fundraisers, volunteers, donors and partners, through which countless lives of children and their families have been touched.  

Good Friday Appeal Chairman Penny Fowler AM said: 

“We are thrilled to announce Oliver & Alissa as the faces of the 95th Good Friday Appeal. They both show remarkable courage, determination and resilience through their health journeys and why the Good Friday Appeal is so important.”

“Every dollar donated ensures that children like Oliver and Alissa receive world-class care at The Royal Children’s Hospital. This vital work is only possible thanks to the continued support from the whole community including our valued partners, dedicated fundraisers, and volunteers.”

Good Friday Appeal Executive Director Rebecca Cowan said: 

“Oliver & Alissa’s stories show that with vital funding from the Good Friday Appeal, the Royal Children’s Hospital can remain one of the world’s leading hospitals in paediatric care.

“Oliver’s family grew up in Horsham, Alissa and her family were based in Darwin at the time of her diagnosis – together their stories led them to The Royal Children’s Hospital.  The support from the community ensures that the RCH continues to provide world class care for our kids.”

This year, the Good Friday Appeal is proud to announce funding allocation to a range of important projects including the GEMStone study, which is a project conducting state-of-the-art genomic testing to address genetic conditions, which are the leading cause of death in children in high-income countries.

The funding will also go toward MRI-compatible Neonatal Transport Ventilations, which will reduce the risk of transport and allow improved management of intubated babies in the hospital.

The 95^th annual Good Friday Appeal will take place on Friday 3 April 2026, bringing Victorians together to celebrate the tireless work of our fundraisers, donors and wider community.  

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre will host the much-loved Kids Day Out, featuring sporting activities, carnival rides, a performance stage and the beloved Teddy Bear hospital.  

Channel Seven, long standing partners of the 2026 Good Friday Appeal, will mark their 69^th year and broadcast the Appeal live into the living rooms of Victorians from 10am on free-to-air television and on 7Plus.  

We know that regional Victoria is the backbone of the Good Friday Appeal. The CFA celebrates 75 years of support, a huge contributor to fundraising over the 95 years.   

Any support, big or small, goes a long way to supporting children and their families like Oliver and Alissa.  

From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you.