Baber joins WOWS
CREATING Childhood Cancer awareness and early detection are important functional areas that WOWS Kids Fiji (WOWS) is looking at expanding.
To support this function, WOWS has signed up Gareth Baber as one of its advocates to help increase awareness of the reality of childhood cancer in Fiji.
The early detection of childhood cancer is critical in increasing survival rates hence WOWS commitment to invest more into its outreach program in the communities.
Our job is to effectively impart knowledge about the issues surrounding childhood cancer and change the mindsets and attitudes of child caregivers.
Late presentation of cases to the hospitals continues to be the biggest challenge to overcome, for WOWS as well as our Paediatric Oncology units (in Lautoka and CWMH).
We want to educate and empower families in all communities in Fiji about the topic of childhood cancer so they can recognize triggers or early signs and symptoms and promptly take appropriate actions to address the situation.
People need to know exactly where to go when they discover these signs and symptoms.
WOWS promotes possible early signs of childhood cancer using the “child cancer” acronym: C – Continued unexplained weight loss.
H – Headaches often associated with early morning vomiting.
I – Increased swelling or persistent pain in the bones.
L – Lumps or mass around the abdomen and neck areas.
D – Development of excessive bleeding and body rash.
C – Constant infections.
A – A whitish colour in the eyes.
N – Nausea or vomiting
C – Contact tiredness or noticeable paleness. E – Eye or vision changes occurring suddenly and persistently.
R – Recurrent and persistent fever of unknown origin.
We encourage everybody in Fiji to take heed of these childhood cancer signs and symptoms and help us spread the word. WOWS cannot do the childhood cancer fight alone.
It will take communities in Fiji to participate in our awareness initiatives in order to have better understanding of how devastating cancer can be for children and their families.
When communities come together, we can help these precious children live long healthy lives that they deserve.
WOWS Kids Fiji is in the business of HOPE and LOVE for the children diagnosed and living with cancer in Fiji and their families.
Although we are now in our 11th year of operation, since inception in 2009, our reality is that we are limited by resources, manpower and finances.
This is why we heavily depend on the support of various communities in Fiji and abroad, including business houses. Help in the form of cash and in kind, big and small, are always received with open arms and deep appreciation at WOWS.
We acknowledge with much gratitude the long-term commitments received from organisations such as Flour Mills of Fiji and Punjas Ltd who provide us with monthly food and toiletries rations that we share out to our WOWS children and their families.
One of our highest operational costs at WOWS is for the provision of transportation for our little champions and their caregivers to attend monthly scheduled treatments or tests at the Paediatric Oncology units at either CWMH in Suva or at Lautoka Hospital.
We are always welcoming kind offers of free transportation provisions to help us.
You can become a volunteer for WOWS as an individual or as an organisation by contacting us on wowskidsfiji@gmail.com
WOWS has been receiving overwhelming support from various communities in Fiji, even during these trying times.
As an organisation that is heavily dependent on fundraising activities to raise much-needed funds to meet our goals and objectives, we are aware that it is harder now for people to donate cash.
We have had to streamline our efforts and be innovative with our fundraising activities that would effectively reach out to those who are still willing and able to donate generously towards our worthy cause.
In terms of fundraising, we started with our Ambassadors Shave or Save campaign in August which was a huge success for us.
We now have our Great WOWS Walk (virtual walkathon) and our Saqamoli Drive fundraisers, which are ongoing until the end of December 2020.
Besides these fundraisers, we are also receiving donations in cash and kind from business houses donating cash as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities; staff or employees initiatives; individuals and associations.
Despite the struggles that everyone is facing right now in the face of this global pandemic, WOWS has been inundated with the show of compassion and support from all walks of life.
As part of our deep and sincere appreciation and gratitude, we share with you below some of the special stories we have received.
“I heard a song, at a function in GPH last year, that I was told, was composed by a very talented girl who was suffering from cancer. That young composer died after writing that song, leaving a message of hope to the rest of the cancer survivors both young and old.
“The song happens to be the theme of WOWS - Walk on Walk Strong. It is that song and composer that inspired me to help children who suffer from cancer.
“That is why I entered this competition and my purpose was to raise funds that could meaningfully help at least one child suffering from cancer.
While listening to that song, it had occurred to me how talented and inspiring these kids can be.
They still have a hopeful smile on their faces despite suffering from this deadly disease.
“I have also seen how the parents of these children fight financial battles and struggle every day to keep their families together.
“Financial burden is the most frustrating part of what survivors of cancer go through. I genuinely wanted to help these families and kids raise funds.
“I, like other professionals, also lead a busy lifestyle which involves sitting in an office most days. I happen to love walking in order to keep fit but did not have any motivation.
“So when a friend, Anabel introduced me to this WOWS Walk Challenge to raise funds for children with cancer, I took it as God sent motivation and happily agreed to take part.
I have raised $F4700.00 within 14 days by walking 98.5km. It has been a challenging experience for me since I have a hectic work schedule.
“Most of the time, I had to walk nights between 7pm to 9pm on my treadmill to cover the distance required. I consider this as a blessing in disguise as the experience has been great for my body and worked as a good stress relief.
“Through this challenge, I also am humbled to discover the generosity of many friends and how supportive my kids, Shiv and Shriya have been in this challenge.
“Kudos to these good Samaritans namely Joel and Eleni , Krishneel Kumar, Mandeep Singh, Deepak Bagia, Laukesh Lal, Krishna Naidu, Stephen MacMillan, Urmila
Kumar, Alvin Karan, Elenoa Tabua, Saileshni Jobart, Leena Goundar and Jo Nacola for sponsoring my walk.
“I am hopeful that what I have raised through the help of well intentioned sponsors, will ease some burden of the parents by taking care of some of their child’s medical and travelling expenses.
“I am a mother of two children as well and can’t even bear to imagine the devastating pain or that emotional storm of losing a child. I would hate to see any child or family suffer or any mother losing her child just because of something so trivial as lack of money.”
“I was nominated by Marita Manley and thought what a wonderful and creative way to raise money. You do something good for a great cause and you push your own personal goals and limits and get fit at the same.
“I was amazed at how generous friends, relatives and co-workers were to support this great cause and I was blessed to raise $1300 towards the group effort of $4500 for WOWS.
“I would like to thank Mere Williams of WOWS for taking us through their organisational setup and program.
“We did not realise how much they fund the welfare and treatment costs for children diagnosed with cancer in Fiji.
“WOWS helps with required pediatric oncology equipment, children’s treatments and medicines, oncology office supplies, families’ laundry, and so much more.
“I would like to encourage others to take up the challenge as it runs through to the