Buy an item or two to support Choc

DID you know, in southern sub-Saharan Africa, seven out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die from it than in comparison to the northern region where the figure is just three?

And on a global scale, one in 408 children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 15. The statistics may be jaw-dropping, but these are realities that some families with children suffering from cancer face.

While each journey of a cancer patient is different, the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (Choc) strives to make it better by serving and supporting the children, parents, families and communities through their cancer journey to keep more than hope alive. However, all of this can only be made possible through funding from the generosity of the public.

“The more signs and the more familiar people get with childhood cancer means the quicker they can get treatment and it increases the chances of the child surviving because, really, children shouldn’t be dying of cancer, there is a cure for cancer, but the problem comes in with late diagnosis,” said programmes coordinator, Ntobeko Zama.

She said that the wide differences between the northern and southern regions were quite unfair because children are disadvantaged just because of where they were born. “We try to raise awareness and encourage people to get involved because as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. So that’s where our volunteers come in, they could have an impact in the children’s lives. They could visit wards and do some interactive learning because children stay in hospitals for quite a long time. Some even spend years in hospital going through treatment and cancer treatment is not like your ordinary flu where you get antibiotics, go home and then come back if you see something,” said Ntobeko.

Interactive learning at the hospital such as cutting, pasting or paining helps take the children’s minds off the treatment for a few hours in the week.

Purchasing a Choc branded item means awareness is spread even farther and from as little as R20, you could make the journey of a family with a child suffering from cancer better.

To help secure the much needed funds, Choc volunteers will be selling Choc branded items at the Bluff Eco Park on Saturday, 30 November. “And our volunteers also have a chance to go to malls and schools to sell our products because when someone buys a mug with the words Choc, it already raises questions to someone who does not know about our organisation,” said Ntobeko.

“I’ve been volunteering at Choc since I’ve been on pension two years ago, and there’s a real need for more volunteers to be able to assist with the children in the wards because they need to be stimulated as they can be there for months,” said volunteer, Brenda Bezuidenhout.

“I would like people to open their hearts to Choc, to realise that when they spend even as little as R20, the funds are being put back to the children because this is why we collect and why we’re selling. To make people aware that we’re not state funded,” she added.

Show your support for children with cancer by buying items on sale at the Eco Market on Saturday, 30 November from 8am to 2pm and again on Friday, 6 to Sunday, 8 December at the Christmas Wonderland Market from 6pm at the Bluff Eco Park on 55 Gray’s Inn Road, Bluff.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

To receive our free newsletter click here

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)