| CHILDHOOD CANCER GUIDES |
| As we enter the new year, we hope that it will bless us with good health and happiness. We all need hope to sustain us in our daily lives, but some of us often need a little more than others. Angels For Hope is an organisation on a mission to bring that extra parcel of hope to those in need. It’s volunteers crochet angels, butterflies and smiley faces which are sent out, free of charge, to "anyone in need of hope or a smile". The hop gifts measure a couple of inches in height and make delightful decorations. Each comes with a personal card to let the recipient know s/he is being thought of with love. A very simple concept which has brought strength and joy to many, many people. Established as a small local project by a woman in Ohio, Angels For Hope has been radically expanded during the past two years by Bay City, Michigan, resident Kelly Smith, to become an international outreach program, touching the lives of thousands, from Australia to America, Canada to China and Israel to the U.K.. Since December 2002, the small group of dedicated crochet enthusiasts has grown to embrace people of all ages, and from over the world. All working hard to create hope for others. Volunteers range in age from 10 to over 80 years old. Angels for Hope “respects the privacy of all names and addresses submitted to us, and will never send any unsolicited email“. They also take every step possible to ensure that, where a child is the recipient, the gift is “child proofed”. Anyone can make a request, and the request may be for an adult or child. Simply complete and submit the online application form. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: General Resource Links > Emotional and Practical Support. |
| Previously Featured Sites |
 |
| "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path - and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ |
| ORPHANS OF THE CANCER STORM |
| Angels For Hope (Int'l) Childhood Cancer Guides International Rb Daisy Fund CancerSource Kids Childhood Eye Cancer Trust Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Fdn The Cancer Crusade and the Survivor Movie. |
| When parents face a diagnosis of childhood cancer, they often wiah to access quality information about paediatric ongology, and learn as much as they can about their child's condition. Knowledge is strength, and as parents are the number one advocates for their children, it is imperative that up-to-date resources be made available to them. Childhood Cancer Guides is a newly established organisation, dedicated to ensuring that four comprehensive, high-quality books about childhood cancer remain in print. These books, part of the Patient Centred Guides series (O'Rielly Press), are excellent resources for parents and survivors. The contain comprehensive high-level inforamation, yet remain thoroughly readable and easy to navigate. They include contributions from parents and children themselves, and present an invaluable practical manual for all those interested in caring for the child with cancer and their family. The website contains lengthy extracts from these books, covering subjects such as surviving hospital, maintaining family life, siblings, making the transition from child to adult, childhood cancer follow-up clinics, and employment. You can aslo print off a useful treatment record booklet to complete and keep as a reference throughout life. An essential resource in the ongoing campaign to make information available to families and survivors. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: General Resource Links > Books |
| Copyright © 2004-2005, Orphans of the Cancer Storm. All Rights Reserved. |
| As a result of my involvement with little Rati from Botswana, I have become part of a very important charity project: The International Retinoblastoma Daisy Fund. The IRDF was esrablished in 2004, in both England and Canada, and I am a co-founding Trustee of the Fund, It's foundation came as a response to the growing need for co-ordinated logistical and fundraising support required by families travelling away from their home country, in order to seek treatment for their child's rare eye cancer. The purpose of the Fund is to facilitate the best possible care for youngsters diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, wherever they may live in the world. We co-ordinate access for children to the most appropriate available medical centre that can provide the care needed by the individual child, at the closest location to where the family lives. We assist with funding for care for children who must travel to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Canada, to access types of care that are not available in their own country. Most importantly, we support the development and validation in clinical trials of new therapies that will, when scientifically established, improve outcomes for children with retinoblastoma, and be accessible to local heath services responsible for the care of these children. Our website contains more information about the Fund, and ways to support this valuable work. If you would like to donate to Rati's medical costs, or support children like her, please visit the DONATE page of the IRDF website. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: Gorata > support |
 |
| Having cancer, or knowing someone who has cancer is very hard, especially when children are affected. Children naturally have many questions, but they often do not give voice to these thoughts for fear of upsetting parents, fearing the answer or not knowing who to ask, Parents too are often challenged by giving answers they may not fully understand themselves, and translating the medical jargon of cancer into bite-size language youngsters can comprehend. The founders of Cancer Source Kids recognise the issues of talking to children about cancer, and the need for even young children to have questions answered effectively. Sections are divided into 6-12, 13-18 age groups and parents, and all medical materials have been propared by professionals in the field. The website contains diagnosis specific explanations (including retinoblastoma and brain tumours), with information about what cancer is, diagnosis, treatments, recovery, coping and survival. Visitors navigate through the sections with the help of Oliver the dog, and learn about other children who have had cancer along the way. The information provided for children on this site would be best accessed by the child in the company of an adult, so that both can work through the material together. This has the added advantage of creating quality time with your child - be they the paritent or sibling, and allows a safe environment for both adult and child to explore and express feelings about the cancer, and individual concerns. There is a question corner, where children can find answers to common questions and record them in an online journal. There are also games to play and pictures to colour in and print out. In addition, visitors can search to children’s cancer camps and wish foundations in the USA by state, with external links to these organisations. This is a great site, which successfully acknowledges the child’s need and right to know what is happening to them or their loved one. Although it does not provide for children under age 6, there is much useful information for older children, particularly survivors who want to know more about their cancer. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: General/ResourceLinks/childsites |
| Did you know that 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the USA? That's more than one classroom full of students. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month across America, and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation works tirelessly on the frontline of awareness raising and advocacy - "because children can't fight cancer alone". Founded in 1970 by a small group of parents, Candlelighters is now a national organisation, based in Kensington, Maryland, with a membership of over 100,000. and a network of local support groups across the country. It provides information and resources for families of children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer, and to survivors, and campaigns for better support systems, increased research funding and greater awareness of childhood cancer. Candlelighters produces and distributes a number of excellent books, mant of them supplied free of charge to families of children with cancer. Resources include the superb book "Educating the Child with Cancer", which is also available at no cost to teachers of children with cancer. During Cancer Awareness Month, Candlelighters encourages families to talk to their local press about their experience with childhood cancer. They provide and information page and sample letter which can be used to contact the media. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: General/ResourceLinks/cancerinfo. |
 |
 |
| Originally known as the "Retinoblastoma Society", the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust is a UK based organisation providing vital information and support to families and individuals affected by retinoblastoma. CHECT also funds research and works to raise awareness of Rb among the medical community and general public. A year ago, OCS featured the Trust folowing the successful name change. The Trust has recently redeveloped its website, to privide more online information and resources for visitors. I helped on that project, and hope the new site will be useful to you. In addition to the extensive explanation of retinoblastoma found on the old site, (including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, long term survival and genetics). the new site contains information about support and publications offered (all of which have been revised this year), education issues and a section for children. More will be added to the site in the near future, so please keep checking back. Featured website address: orphancancer.org Location: ORbIT/ResourceLinks/support. Originally Featured: May 2004. |
 |
 |
| January - February - March - April/May - June to August - September / October - November / December - |
| Well actually not so much The Cancer Crusade as The Survivor Movie, which has been produced the The Cancer Crusade. The Cancer Crusade was established by former CNN sports correspondent Roger Cawthon and his photographer/author wife, Kathy after the couple both received cancer diagnoses within six weeks of one another. Their aim is to provide encouragement and hope through materials and public speaking. One of their great accomplishments since initiating this organisation has been the production of The Survivor Movie, a flash production which reflects cancer's inability to steal the spirit of an individual. The movie has been hugely well received, and is a real inspiration. Featured website address: Featured website address: and orphancancer.org Location: General/ResourceLinks/emotionalsupport.. |
 |