When Ian Kalatzis was recovering in hospital from a brain tumour he would have loved a visit from one of his favourite pop stars.
Even a good imitation would have done.
Yesterday he helped make sure kids at Starship Children's Hospital had a little more excitement than the "four walls and telly"
his own hospital experience featured.
Ian K, as he is known, is a member of Australian imitation boy band D'boyZ which is touring New Zealand with "Britney Spears" - another replica of the real thing.
Part of the proceeds from their 22 shows go towards the new neurosurgery theatre planned for Starship.
At present children needing neurosurgery go to neighbouring Auckland Hospital, which is geared mainly for adult care.
Over $2 million is needed for the new theatre, which will handle up to 250 cases a year.
In the Starship atrium D'boyZ and Britney descended from the top floor to the shouts of 80 cheering kids.
Auckland's Yasmin Mitchell, aged 6, sung along as the lads helped Britney with a short a cappella version of Oops I Did It Again.
Afterwards Yasmin declared, "It's better without the boys. But she's awesome."
