― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
KidzCan Children’s Cancer Relief
After visiting their website for the very first time I was
filled with an overwhelming burst of emotion and before I knew it my eyes were
welling up with tears. This is not what I had expected but I guess that is the
power of a testimony and the compelling influence of the compassionate. WOW!
Every Child deserves the “right
to fight”!
With a vision to create a compassionate world where children
with cancer are given the chance to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, KidzCan
is actively doing. I couldn't help but
notice the passion and dedication emulated through imagery-photographs of the
children and volunteers in orange! I am tempted to direct all my readers to the
KidzCan website but with that aside KidzCan is a registered Private Voluntary
Organization based in Harare, Zimbabwe. They are dedicated to increasing the
survival rate of children with cancer in a loving and caring environment. Kidzcans’
strategic objectives are focused on improving early detection and effective
treatment for children with cancer.
Many of us are well aware of the battle against cancer, however,
Andrea Whatman (a survivor of childhood cancer who was one of the ‘Pari
Volunteers’) and Dr. Mupandamunda (the only paediatric oncologist at the time) in
2002 noticed how the cost of chemotherapy drugs for children with cancer was
becoming a problem at the small mission of Northside Community Church. They received
a month’s fully funded fellowship in the USA and upon their return committed to
forming Children’s Cancer Relief, KidzCan.
Although initially, Kidzcan provided only spiritual and
emotional support to children suffering from cancer, as well as being a source
of comfort to their parents, very quickly, due to dire shortages of medical
provisions such as chemotherapy drugs, Kidzcan started to provide financial and
other aid. Their now more extensive work includes:
- Sourcing internationally and paying for unavailable chemotherapy and associated medications.
- Providing chemo drugs to any child in A4 Special in Parirenyatwa hospital free of charge.
- Funding diagnostic testing for accurate and expedient results.
- National awareness and sensitization campaigns.
- A volunteer programme to provide art therapy and playtime for the children restricted to the hospital.
Kidzcan believes that kids with cancer can survive and there
is a future. They are now actively shaping that future and painting Harare Orange
in the process. J
As with all my other posts for GlobalGivingUK I am highlighting
all the different areas that people can get involved. The volunteer programme mentioned
above is open to anybody and everybody so anyone in Zimbabwe or anyone hoping
to visit my beautiful country should definitely consider taking time to
volunteer with Kidzcan. I hear they love volunteers and judging from their
website it looks like loads of FUN! For further information please visit their
website: http://www.kidzcanzimbabwe.org/
.
If you are unable to give your time there is also a platform for individuals
to contribute financially via GlobalGivingUK. To do so you can follow this link:
http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/donate/11900/kidzcan-childrens-cancer-relief/
.
XOXO
Chido Dziva Chikwari
P.S If you would like to support my visit my fundraiser is
still open. Please visit http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/fundraisers/zimbabwe-impact-assesment/
No comments:
Post a Comment