Children handed gifts collected via festive campaign
CHILDREN battling cancer had smiles on their faces when staff at Lapta’s Amore Tanning and Beauty Salon joined officials of the Help Those With Cancer Association (Tulips) to present gifts collected through a Christmas tree “gift tag” campaign.
Some 25 bags filled with wrapped gifts such as toys and clothes — all packed in line with suggested ages and genders of recipients written on tags taken from a Christmas tree in the salon — were delivered to the children’s oncology unit at Lefkoşa State Hospital and Tulips’ Hope Education and Culture Home, where salon owner and scheme founder Natasha Atik led the distribution of gifts to each child.
Thanking those who supported the appeal for children who are directly or indirectly affected by cancer and who often live in poor economic circumstances as a result, Ms Atik expressed her happiness in being able to bring a smile to the faces of “the little angels”.
Tulips founding chairman Raziye Kocaismail said gifts had also been left for children who could not attend the presentations due to ongoing medical treatment.
“On behalf of each of our cancer patients, I thank Natasha and all her supporting customers for enabling these children to experience such a wonderful and emotional day,” she said.
“Some people say there is a lack of public sensitivity on the subject of cancer but this initiative shows that there are many people who are putting their hearts into helping Tulips.
“I was very moved when Natasha received a list of names of children to receive gifts and was scared in case it was shorter than last year’s because some had lost their battle with cancer. We made a wish that this year we do not want to lose any of the children from the list — nor do we want to see new names added to it because we wish every child a healthy life.
“We now know and feel that we are not alone on this journey and whenever we need something we always come across good people who are willing to help.”