Boost battle against childhood cancer
NEXT Thursday February 15 is International Childhood Cancer day and all who support this worthy cause, are asked to wear blue on the day and buy Childhood Cancer Foundation SA (CHOC) badges and heart-shaped chocolates at R10 each.
CHOC supports childhood cancer sufferers and their families. They strive to provide a family environment at treatment facilities, give moral support and even to help when, for instance, the family lives far from the treatment centre and needs somewhere to stay while their little one is undergoing therapy. In some cases they could be away from home for months. A story that appeared in the Daily Dispatch this week described the ordeal of a mother and her little girl who was diagnosed with cancer when she was only two. Describing the trauma of numerous operations and other procedures over a period of more than two years, the mother says, “CHOC really stood by me. There is also a social worker in the ward whose support is mind-blowing and the paediatric oncologists were fantastic.
“They said I could go to a private hospital, but I chose to stay with the state because of the fabulous support you get. There is a family environment and always another mom to speak to.”
This mother’s link with CHOC has not abated since her daughter’s recovery. (This year the little girl started Grade R).
“Other moms and gogos at Frere had more challenges than I did. They would lock up their homes in rural areas and come to East London for months at a time. This is where CHOC would step in to help them. That is why I want to give back by supporting CHOC,” which is why she feels it imperative to impress upon people that the early detection of childhood cancer enables a better chance of survival.
“There are a lot of very sick kids,” she said.
So if you support this worthwhile cause make sure you don something blue next Thursday and make your financial contribution by buying a badge and/or chocolate from Stepping Stone School on the corner of Livingstone Road and Peacocke Street.