Free services to children affected by cancer

 Art therapy is increasingly being used around the world by patients to cope with cancer as part of a psychosocial care programme. According to research, art therapy can help reduce anxiety and depression and even physical pain symptoms. Cancer Fund’s newly joint art therapists Abbie So and HoiLam Tang are ready to promote this therapy that helps improve the quality of life of our clients, especially children who are not well versed in express in words. For instance, in our recent Rainbow Club family group we addressed a topic on a family’s view of cancer and one mother learned that her children had different ideas to help their father persevere through treatments and she was surprised by that and one couple learned to better communicate with one another.

Our art therapists Abbie and HoiLam are able to tell us how art therapy is an effective tool in assisting patients and their family members to move forward with better communication and hope.

As we look forward to embracing a new beginning with hope and optimism, I would like to take a moment to thank our frontline teams. I am so proud of how every one of them adapted during the last 18 months to ensure that we continued to provide our much needed free professional support, whether that was on Zoom training or reaching out through WhatsApp or phone calls, they always ensured that no one was facing cancer alone. During the sunny and cooler days of January, we held our first virtual Stride for a Cure charity walkathon to raise fund for our projects. Hundreds of people across Hong Kong took part and completed their 5km hike and helped raise funds for cancer research. We thank them all! Finally, I would like to thank all of you, our supporters, donors, volunteers and peer support groups who have inspired, motivated and helped us throughout the years.

We are so delighted to receive funding from our generous donors at GlobalGiving. Without your monetary support, we won't be able to deliver the cancer support services to the children affected by cancer. 

This crowdfunding campaign will soon be replaced by another project on end of life care. We will keep you posted about this upcoming project with concern to the cancer patients and their immediate families towards end of life care and quality of life at advanced stage cancer.

Your support does matter to us! Please join us to give love and care to cancer patients, so no one faces cancer alone.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your wonderful support that enables us to provide FREE seamless cancer care. Over the last 31 years, we have helped raise awareness on the importance of detecting cancer early to save lives. We have offered psychosocial support for anyone touched by cancer and celebrate people surviving it. One of the things that inspires me the most is the way Cancer Fund brings so many amazing people together from all walks of life including survivors and their families, social workers, counsellors, nurses, doctors, art therapists, research teams, corporations, schools and donors and more. In the last year, we were privileged to serve more than 4,200 new clients with our care services. Thanks to our professional team of social workers, dietitians, oncology nurses, clinical psychologists and counsellors and art therapists. We have provided 1,613 programmes for 27,581 people touched by cancer.  

Our Rainbow Club Support Children 1,045 Attendances at our Rainbow Club Activities Our Rainbow Club programme offers caring support to children who have a parent or relative who has been diagnosed or in bereavement due to cancer. These programmes address the needs of children and helps them to release their negative emotions. Last year, 52 programmes were offered to 864 users (parents and children) over 76 sessions.

It has been a very difficult fundraising environment this past year and I want to say a big thank you to our supporters who help sustain our free care services. I sincerely thank all our donors, for giving the gift of hope and ensuring no one faces cancer alone.

We tailor made a wide range of support and services for children at different age and their parents who are affected by cancer in order to meet their diversified needs. In 2018-2019, we offered a total of 52 programmes to 864 users (parents and children). 

Young children may have difficulties expressing their feelings and may need help to find the right words to articulate their feelings and thoughts. Through Play Therapy we explain how their parent may need to go to the hospital. We provide information about cancer and the appearance and behavior that may occur due to medication and treatment so that they can cope more effectively with the situation.

Our play therapist will use various media to communicate with the child, these can include, storytelling, puppet play, drama, music, sand play, painting etc to help children find ways to express their inner feelings and emotions. Our therapist will be ready to answer question such as ‘Did I cause my mum/dads cancer?’; ‘Will I get cancer now?’ or ‘Will my mum/dad die?’

For older children and adolescents we use Creative Writing and Art Therapy to help facilitate their emotional expression and encourage discovery and acceptance. Depending on the individual needs, the therapists will combine several techniques together to provide the most appropriate support for the child. This will include art forms such as music, movement, play, psychodrama, sculpture, painting, and drawing.

Our clinical psychologist is on hand for our children to talk to regarding their fears for relapse or how to cope within the family environment.

In addition to the traditional face-to-face peer support groups, we also developed web-based peer support for adolescents, and through a closed Facebook group (for Rainbow Club members only) and other social media platforms (such as Kakao) they connect and share their emotions. These groups are monitored by our staff andfollow up discussions with other specialists such as nurses or therapists will be arranged if required.

Losing a loved one to cancer is traumatic for all of the family and children may respond in different ways. Younger children may ask ‘Why did mum/dad die?’; ‘Did I do something wrong’ or ‘If I die, will I be able to join my mum/dad in heaven?’ Through counselling, our bereavement specialists help guide children through this sensitive and often confusing time.

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year. It’s the time of the year to celebrate new beginnings and the joy of being with loved ones.

I’m writing to ask for your help so we can face our future with confidence. We offer seamless care for children and their families afffected by cancer within our network of Support Centres.

Your generosity means so much to us as we are facing a very difficult fundraising environment.

Every year, more people are being diagnosed with cancer due to early detection and our aging population. Almost 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women will have cancer before the age of 75. In Hong Kong, we’ve had more than 33,000 new cancer cases in 2017, that’s over 90 cases a day, which is the highest increase in a decade.

When treatment ends, another challenge begins dealing with side effects such as depression, anxiety, fatigue and other physical symptoms. The impact of cancer on patients is deeply profound and personal because it affects their family, relationships, work and the way they connect with the world.

More people than ever are turning to us for practical and emotional support. Through our FREE services, we strive to meet their needs and improve their quality of life. I’m writing to ask specifically for your assistance in our effort to raise HKD 3 million towards the running costs of our largest Support Centre in Kwai Chung.

We fill the gaps in cancer care, our professional teams help anyone touched by cancer. We offer advice by our social workers, nurses, dietitians and counsellors. We have workshops by art therapists and wellness classes; and peer support to address their unmet needs. We also give information on cancer and treatments. Our staff members provide home visits to patients who are unable to travel to our centre. Emergency funding is also available through our Relief Fund.

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