Charity presents gifts to oncology patients
CHILDREN and young adults suffering from cancer have received surprise gifts from a UK charity set up in memory of a young woman who died from the disease.
The Tanyel’s Smile charity was established in June last year by the parents of 20-year-old Tanyel Uzun, who passed away in January 2016. Gülay and Ceyhun Uzun travelled to the TRNC especially to distribute sets of pyjamas on Monday and Tuesday to some 30 youngsters, aged from one year old to 19, who are undergoing treatment at Lefkoşa’s Oncology Centre.
They plan to make more visits to the unit to provide requested items, organise days out and to help comfort and support grieving parents who have lost children to cancer. The couple have raised more than £6,000 since forming their charity and are planning to boost funds with various activities. This year alone, Mr Uzun will be seeking sponsorship for taking part in marathons in London, Porstmouth and Berlin, and undertaking kayaking, skydiving and triathlon events along with a 200-mile London-toParis cycle ride.
The charity’s website said Ms Uzun had “remained very positive and always kept her beautiful smile” throughout three years of treatment for a rare form of bone cancer, and had wanted to help after realising from her annual summer holidays in North Cyprus that “local children suffering from cancer do not have the facilities or support afforded to her”.
The charity set up in her name aims to help young people up to the age of 24 in the TRNC and their families “as they struggle with the reality of cancer”, whether through buying clothes, helping with travel costs, funding an outing or simply helping financially. “Tanyel loved Cyprus, which is why we were inspired to establish this charity in the UK to help young people here,” Mrs Uzun told Cyprus Today.
“The idea of bringing them gifts was a thought we had when we remembered how Tanyel was given surprise presents and the smile it would put on her face. All we want is to make these children happy and bring similar smiles to their faces by helping them during their painful journey, along with their parents and those who have lost children and need support to get back on their feet.”
To make a donation to the charity, visit www.tanyels smile.org.uk.