IN SID E: - Child Cancer Foundation

sharing
NOVEMBER 2011
Meet
Pete
INSIDE:
PHOE N IX
INSIDE:
Memorials Remembering
our Loved Ones
F R A N N IE
SUPER SURVIVOR!
OUR
W O R LD
FI R ST
T’S
A GRANDPAREN
PERSPECTIVE
Emma
Joyce
Dequarn
WE’RE looking for two new stars for
our 2012 Child Cancer Appeal Month
To create awareness and raise funds to help families affected by child cancer
we would like two special children and their families to be included
in promotional imagery and media activity for Child Cancer Appeal Month.
This will involve different types of media activity and advertising (which will be fully explained to interested
families) and may require some travel. For the two special stars for 2012, we are looking for a boy and girl
between 4 – 12 years who love the camera. Although only two children will be selected for print promotional
material and select media activity, we also need children to take part in other media opportunities, share their
stories and include their photos on our website etc, so we are keen to hear from everyone who is interested.
If you know your child would like to take part in the promotion and publicity of Child Cancer Appeal Month
or would welcome the idea of being one of our 2012 stars, please supply us with the following:
• Child’s Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Your Contact Details
(name, phone, address)
• Child’s Interests and Hobbies
• Please tell us a little bit about your child’s cancer journey
• How did the Child Cancer Foundation help your family?
• How many Beads of Courage does your child have?
• Please supply two or more recent photos
of your child
Please email the above details to Jade Taylor
[email protected] by 28 November
Contents
CEO Corner
3
Memorials - We Remember Our Loved Ones
10
A Grandparent’s Journey
4
A Dad’s Perspective
13
Fran’s Story of Osteosarcoma
6
Our Events
14
Volunteer Profile
15
Regional News
16
Health Professionals Update - Research Trials 7
Pete and His Friends
9
COVER - Main photo: The gorgeous Pete Pirie
Bottom photos from left: 1. Frannie Taylor 2. Beads of Courage Ball 3. Phoenix Clarkson
CEO Corner
Welcome to the November Sharing Magazine.
Once again we have done our best to bring you
different perspectives from people on the child
cancer journey.
This month we hear from a Dunedin
grandparent about her distinctly
different experience and a Taranaki
Dad tells his story. We continue to
write about some of the rarer forms
of cancer - in this issue we talked to
a brave Bay of Plenty girl who had
osteosarcoma.
Every year we mark Memorial Day in
November, this year it will be held on
Sunday, November 13th. Our branch
events are an opportunity for families
to be together and remember their
own much loved children as well as
other families’ children who have lost
their battle with cancer.
We also bring you photos from two
hugely successful events held recently,
the Beads of Courage Ball held in the
Departure Lounge of Christchurch
International Airport and the Champions
Luncheon in Wellington.
We are also holding the Child Cancer
Foundation Annual General Meeting
on Saturday, November 19th at the
Copthorne Hotel, Quay Street, Auckland.
It is in this edition every year that we
also remember children who are no
longer with us. Our thoughts are with
their loved ones and I thank everyone
who shared their special thoughts and
photographs for our Memorial section.
Finally, I hope many of you enjoyed the
opportunity to hear from the Professors
John Spinetta and Pat Deasy-Spinetta
who spoke on our International Guests
Speakers Tour throughout New Zealand
recently. John and Pat were in New
Zealand for SIOP (International Society
of Paediatric Oncology). We have
thoroughly enjoyed organising the
speaker tour to enable families to
have the opportunity to hear from two
such experienced and highly regarded
paediatric oncology experts.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas
and New Year and happy holidays.
Sarah Thomson
CEO - Child Cancer Foundation
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
3
ABOVE: Lynne, her partner Des and grandchildren Amelia and Phoenix, recently.
The part grandparents
play during a child
cancer journey isn’t often
acknowledged, and yet
grandparents juggle
difficult and complex roles.
Dunedin’s Lynne Robins
kindly agreed to share
her story.
My partner Des and I had a very special
bond with our first born grandchild and
spent a lot of time with him. Our gorgeous
grandson Phoenix was diagnosed with
Leukaemia (ALL) in June 2007, he had
just had his second birthday and had
welcomed his little sister into the world.
Phoenix underwent treatment for the
next three and a half years.
I shared Phoenix’s journey with friends
and family through an email diary which
still brings back all those feelings of
being so scared, even now.
Phoenix had a rash, he wasn’t eating and
his gums would bleed when he cleaned
his teeth. He was very lethargic and was
a really sick wee man. He would get up
early in the morning and wait on the
sofa for Kim (his Mum) to get up.
ABOVE: Phoenix during treatment
4
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
The Doctor didn’t know what was wrong
with Phoenix and after a few visits,
suggested he be taken to hospital. I will
never forget the call I received from Troy
(his Dad) asking me to pick up Kim and
go to the hospital. Nothing could have
prepared us for the news we were told.
Phoenix’s platelet level should have
been over 250, it was 8. The Doctors
didn’t know how he was walking.
I spent the first night in ICU in Dunedin
Hospital with Phoenix to allow his
parents to go home and prepare for the
journey to Christchurch the following
day, I tried to be brave and comfort him.
Every so often he would wake up and
say to me “Nona take me home Nona’s
house, take me Nona’s car.” He would
reach up and I would gently lift him out
of bed and cuddle him carefully (as it
hurt, he had no cushioning on his bones).
He would wrap his wee arms around
my neck and cling on to me. I held him
as long as I could before I was told to
put him back in bed. Little did I know
I wouldn’t get to cuddle him for some
time as his poor wee body was too sore
and wouldn’t be able to take it.
I honestly can’t describe how scared I
was. I tried to be brave for Kim and Troy
but I felt hollow inside, how could this
happen to Phoenix, our darling wee man.
We saw our role as providing as much
help and support as we possibly could
for the whole family. I would liaise
with Troy’s work and try and provide
as many breaks as I could by travelling
to Christchurch every opportunity I had
and staying with Phoenix in the hospital.
We watched the movie Cars about a
thousand times, Des and I sometimes
shared the single pull out sofa which
was fun and when Phoenix was on
steroids, we would be up getting biscuits
etc all night long. 
Phoenix hadn’t laughed. I remember
the day he first laughed again. It was
infectious; it was a sound we hadn’t
heard for a long time. We all shared in
the laughter and did stupid things just
to keep that sound going.
One of the hardest things I found was
leaving Phoenix and returning back to
Dunedin. He loved stars and the moon
so I would tell him that when the stars
came out, they were Nona’s kisses
being sent. He would say yep.
When he finally arrived home I remember
the first time we took him for treatment
and holding him while they accessed
porty. He screamed and cried, it just
broke our hearts.
We watched Phoenix’s journey through
the three and a half years, we experienced
the terror whenever he got sick and
how scared we felt and we watched him
get so skinny and being fed by a tube,
then bloating up with steroids. Being a
grandparent is like having another child of
your own but harder as you can’t make
decisions. You can only give them the
absolute love they need and worry and
help their parents as much as you can
while feeling helpless because you can’t
take away their pain.
We are an incredibly close family and
I had wonderful support from friends
and family and especially Des and my
daughter Emma. Emma adored her
nephew and provided invaluable support
for her brother and sister in law staying
in hospital, travelling to Christchurch
for the overnight trips and helping
with Phoenix’s sister Amelia, providing
invaluable support.
LEFT: A happy
Phoenix three
months before
diagnosis.
Phoenix has been out of treatment for
nearly a year and is doing so well. Since
the chemo stopped, he has grown so
much. My heart broke when he saw
all the things Amelia did at kindy and
said to Kim “Mum I didn’t go to kindy
did I?” She replied “No, you were very
sick Phoenix” and he said “I just want
to have fun.” He loves school now and
enjoys reading and just being a boy.
It’s been exciting watching him eating
again, regaining taste buds and trying
things he used to love. He is an absolute
joy and we are so grateful to have our
little boy well again.
LEFT: Phoenix at Ronald
McDonald House
in Christchurch.
Des and I are now the Chair and Secretary
of the Dunedin Branch of CCF. We chose
to be on the committee to pay back. We
saw all the help they gave the family, the
support they needed. The stress of having
a child with cancer has the ability to tear
a family apart, our CCF Family Support
Coordinator Christine Donovan provided
so much help and support and we were
so grateful that we wanted to be part of
helping other families.
A grandparent’s journey is hard. We were
fortunate that Troy and Kim involved us
and kept us informed as to what was going
on. We gained knowledge of treatments
and words we had never heard of before.
Please if you are a grandparent, know
that you are not alone and your pain is
very real.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
5
Osteosarcoma:
Frannie’s
Story
ABOVE: Frannie during treatment.
Osteosarcoma occurs most
often in children and young
adults between 10 and 20
years of age. It frequently
starts in the ends of the
long bones such as the
bones of the arms and legs.
In Frannie’s case it was in her left tibia
and chemotherapy started within days
of diagnosis in February, 2010. Frannie
was 10 years old. The tumour was
removed two months later along with
12cm of her tibia, replaced with an
allograft (donor bone from a cadaver)
strengthened by metal plates and pins.
Frannie’s leg was in plaster for eight
weeks, and unfortunately when the
plaster came off on June 24, 2010, there
was a major infection in the wound and
she was lucky that surgery was able to
repair this or she could have lost her leg.
A month long stay in Starship followed
with antibiotic treatment and
chemotherapy, and when Fran was
allowed home to Omokoroa, she had
to keep a “bubble” attached to her
Hickman Line giving IV antibiotics for over
two months. From February 1 to October
11, Fran spent 143 nights in hospital.
She spent nearly a year in a wheelchair
and could not do basic things most
young people take for granted, like
dressing themselves, going to the toilet
by themselves, getting in and out of
cars…. and of course all the time in
Auckland put a lot of pressure on Dad
Mat, and siblings Jamie (15) and Callie (5).
The above represents just a snapshot of
Frannie’s journey, but she and her family
are now happy to be off treatment
and doing well, although their trips to
Auckland haven’t stopped.
ABOVE: Frannie at Starship
for a drug trial visit.
That’s because the family are one of
many families around New Zealand
involved in a clinical drug trial.
It wasn’t easy for Frannie’s mother Kim
to ask her daughter to be involved in
a trial which will require her to have
weekly injections at Starship until next
March, but for her it was a “no brainer”.
6
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
“We researched the drug (Interferon)
and it is an “anti cancer drug, a form of
chemotherapy which may help Fran not
to get this cancer again,” Kim says.
“When your child is diagnosed with any
life threatening illness, I think you will do
anything to protect them. Unfortunately
with cancer there is not much protection
you can give when you are holding their
hand as they are lying in bed being very
ill. So this is our way of offering some
protection, of doing something for her
for the future.
“Francesca has some side effects from the
drugs, particularly nausea and doesn’t like
missing school every Friday, or having four
weekly blood tests, but for her future, we
have to make her have this,” she says.
Frannie is particularly susceptible to
nausea. During treatment she went
through 24 nasogastric tubes which
kept coming up, but is starting to see
the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Kids at school think it’s cool to get on
a plane to Auckland every week, but
really it’s not!” she says.
Frannie still enjoys seeing Tauranga
Family Support Coordinator Debbie Hockly.
Her little sister Callie calls her “aunty”,
and the involvement in events and tickets
to shows etc have been a great help
to Kim. Frannie is also enjoying drama
lessons through a CCF Scholarship.
At this stage Frannie is still only able to
walk short distances, but she is looking
forward to gaining strength in her leg
and to finally ditching those plane trips
to Auckland, by March next year….
* HEALTH P RO F ESSIO N ALS UPDAT E * H E ALTH PRO FE SSIO NALS UPDATE * HE ALTH PRO FE SSIO NALS UPDATE *
Health Professional’s Update
CLINICAL TRIALS
In this issue our Health
Professional’s Report
focuses on helping to build
your knowledge about
clinical trials, which many
New Zealand children with
cancer take part in each
year. Sarah Hunt (RN PhD),
has helpfully adapted a
COG (Children’s Oncology
Group) article for New
Zealand’s situation.
What is a Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials are used to determine the
most effective and safest treatment for a
disease. Each trial is aimed at improving
survival rates or reducing side effects or
late effects of treatment. People often
hear about clinical trials and think that a
patient in a trial may or may not receive
medicine. Those who do not receive
medicine in a trial are said to be receiving
placebos. In nearly every COG clinical
trial, patients receive medication. This
means patients are not receiving placebos.
It is also important to understand that
clinical trials are standard practice in
cancer treatment for children, adolescents
and young adults. While less than five
percent of adults with cancer are enrolled
in clinical trials, 60 percent of patients
under age 29 diagnosed with cancer are
enrolled in trials. Participation in clinical
trials spans an average of two to three years
and requires a lifetime of follow-up care.
Development and Review of COG
Clinical Trials
Many people and organisations are involved
in developing a clinical trial. The Children’s
Oncology Group (COG) is the largest
paediatric clinical trials group in the
world, with more than 210 participating
hospitals. For each new clinical trial, a
group of doctors, nurses and other experts
propose how the treatment should be
given. Many experts within COG review
the trial before it is sent to the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) for approval. The
Institutional Review Board (IRB) of each
hospital participating in a clinical trial
must also approve the trial, in part to
make sure that the rights of patients who
will be enrolled in the trials are protected.
It is helpful to understand that each trial
is reviewed many times by different
experts in and outside of COG before
being started at a treatment centre.
Types of Clinical Trials
There are two types of clinical research
trials, therapeutic and non-therapeutic.
• Therapeutic trials are ones which enrol
patients and provide a specific treatment to
the patients to study its impact on cancer.
• Non-therapeutic trials are ones which
do not provide a treatment to patients,
but instead study important factors
which help advance the understanding
of cancer and its impact. For example,
some non-therapeutic studies collect
tissue specimens to examine the cellular
structure of a cancer tumour. Other studies
track epidemiological information such
as the long-term health effects of
chemotherapy. Non-therapeutic studies
often lead to therapeutic ones.
Within therapeutic trials, there are three
different phases used to evaluate new
treatments. Each phase has a different goal.
• Phase I studies are the most basic of
clinical trials. Here, drugs are tested to
evaluate the dosages of the treatment
and how often the treatment can be
administered (maximum tolerated
dosages, MTD). As it is unknown whether
the treatment will be effective against a
particular disease, people with a variety
of diseases are enrolled. Drugs are given
at gradually increasing dosages until
there are unacceptable side effects
(dose-limited toxicities, DLT).
• Phase II studies use the results from
Phase I studies regarding MTD and DLT.
The treatment is targeted at the
population of patients which responded
most favourably in Phase I trials, because
it is believed to hold promise for that
particular group of patients.
• Phase III studies are those that most
children will receive when newly
diagnosed. These studies will test the
standard treatment (current best) against
promising alternatives that may increase
cure rates or decrease side effects or late
effects of treatment.
Your child may be in a Phase III clinical
trial that compares two or more treatments
(called study “arms”). Each treatment
has been shown to be effective in other
studies but not yet compared to each
other or the current best treatment.
Usually, one treatment arm is the
“standard” or the best proven current
treatment. The other (new) treatment has
some changes or additions to determine
if they cure the disease in more children,
control disease longer, cause fewer or
less serious side effects, or change the
number of days spent in the hospital.
continued next page...
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
7
* HEALTH P RO F ESSIO N ALS UPDAT E * H E ALTH PRO FE SSIO NALS UPDATE * HE ALTH PRO FE SSIO NALS UPDATE *
Health Professional’s Update
C L I N IC A L T R I A L S
continued...
If a clinical trial is not currently available
at the time your child is diagnosed,
your child will receive the best standard
treatment.
To learn if one treatment in a Phase III
clinical trial is better, each child is assigned
randomly to one of the treatments.
Assigning children randomly is a process
like flipping a coin that assures that each
child has a fair and equal chance of being
assigned to either/any of the treatments.
In most studies, we do not know which
treatment is better until all the children
taking part in the clinical trial have
completed treatment and have been
observed for several years. However, if
one of the treatments is already found to
be better than the others while the trial is
still going on, the trial is stopped, and all
children are given the better treatment.
If for any reason the treatment plan is
found to be not the best for your child,
the plan will be changed.
Individual Drug Studies
Individual drug studies can be conducted
at a large or small number of hospitals,
depending on the purpose of the trial. In
individual drug studies, a drug manufacturer
closely monitors lab tests and results
from the use of the drug, and releases
only a small amount of the drug during
the period of the study. These studies
are usually performed at centres that
are well equipped to gather the needed
data and to provide a quick transfer of
lab specimens.
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Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
Supportive Care Studies
Supportive care studies evaluate ways of
helping with the side effects of treatments.
These can also be performed at a few
medical centres at a time or at many
hospitals at once. Most often though,
these research questions can be answered
with fewer patients. Once the results
are shared, patient outcomes may be
improved sooner than through a large
national study.
Limited Institution Trials
Sometimes, clinical trials are performed
in only a few hospitals. These are called
Limited Institution Trials and they are
able to answer a research question with
fewer patients than most national trials
require. Answers to important research
questions can be obtained in a shorter
time through such limited trials. COG
limited institution trials are reviewed
and approved in the same manner as all
other clinical trials.
Pilot Studies
Pilot studies are examples of Limited
Institution Trials. In these studies,
investigators are studying a new treatment
or therapy combination. Such studies
are done at only a few institutions with
a limited number of patients to see if
the treatments are safe and effective
against the targeted disease. If it is found
to be effective, the new therapy may be
open to more institutions. The results of
pilot studies are compared to the best
current treatments to find out if the new
treatments are better in some way. Pilot
studies also help to decide whether the
drugs or therapies being tested should be
investigated further using more patients.
COG and its role in Clinical Trials
Everything known about how to cure
children with cancer has been learned
from research. The Children’s Oncology
Group (COG) has been a large part of
developing this knowledge. In fact, by
treating children in clinical trials, COG
members have increased the cancer cure
rate for children from less than 10 percent
40 years ago to nearly 80 percent today.
All COG members must maintain the
highest standards for treating patients
with cancer. They follow COG-defined
protocols to prove their scientific, medical
and ethical scientific expertise. To help
develop new ways to treat cancer, COG
members submit diagnostic, treatment
and follow-up data to a central place in
order to combine the data from many
patients and obtain results rapidly. Each
year, more than 60 percent of children
with cancer are treated on research
protocols. These clinical trials compare
the best available treatment to one or
more experimental treatments, which
are carefully developed with the goal of
finding the best possible treatments for
each type of cancer. When a child
is treated on a COG protocol, all the
information about the patient’s diagnosis,
treatment and results is collected and
analysed and findings are published for
review by all members of the Children’s
Oncology Group. The group then builds
on this knowledge to determine the next
steps for research.
Adapted by:
Sarah Hunter RN PhD
Lead Clinical Research Associate
Paediatric Haematology/Oncology
Starship Children’s Health
Source: COG
Pete
and His
Animals
ABOVE: Pete checks out his dog Enzo.
BELOW: Pete with his friend Willis.
Pete Pirie loves animals. He wants to pat every dog he sees
while walking his own dog Enzo and check out every living
creature he passes - cat, bird, hedgehog… He is also best
friends with a pig called Willis!
Pete signs “pig” to Mum Bridget about
10 times a day to tell her he wants to
see Willis. It’s not surprising that one day
he would like to be a vet.
Willis belongs to Pete’s caregiver
Maureen Smith. The Captain Cooker is
so friendly he tries to jump in Pete’s car
to ride home with him and responds to
a few simple commands.
Pete’s dog Enzo is a very patient
American bulldog/greyhound cross and
happily puts up with Pete being “quite
bossy.” He has Pete in hysterics tearing
around the sub-division next door and is
happy to be examined and prodded.
Pete has also been the focal point of
a lot of medical attention himself. The
Ranui eight-year-old was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in
April 2007, when he was three.
“We want him to enjoy every chance he
has, so Pete goes to school at Waitakere
Primary because he loves it,” says
Bridget. “He is such a cool, funny kid, he
is always doing naughty things to make
people laugh. He even likes going to
Starship Hospital, because he knows he
is going to get my undivided attention
and the nurses are so lovely to him.”
The hardest part of treatment for Bridget,
has been that Pete has not been able to
communicate his pain. “If there is anything
we could change it would be that – it is a
million times worse when we can’t find
out exactly where he is hurting, or if he is
hurting at all and not just unhappy.”
Pete’s cognitive ability has also been
affected by chemotherapy. He has never
spoken well, but was good at writing
but since relapse he has lost some of his
writing ability.
Bridget and her family have connected
with several other families who have
children with Down syndrome who are
also going through the cancer journey.
“I always try and help out any other
families, in particular those in the same
situation,” Bridget says.
There is an increased incidence of ALL
in children with Down syndrome.
Pete is one cool little guy. He may be up
against many more challenges than most
eight-year-olds, but he certainly takes it
all in his stride, with his cheeky grin and
mischievous nature. He’s an inspiration!
Treatment was difficult with a lot of
infections and side effects as children
with Down syndrome are more sensitive
to chemotherapy.
“There was huge relief when treatment
was finished in August, 2010, it was one
of the happiest days of our lives,” says
Bridget. “But unfortunately Pete relapsed
five months off treatment in February this
year. It was our worst fear.”
Pete was given a poor prognosis and wasn’t
expected to live more than a few weeks,
but after further intensive treatment he is
now on maintenance again and his family
will never give up hope that he will beat
the cancer. Pete is adored by Dad Colin and
big brother Griffin (11).
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
9
Memorials
Aaron Ricky Bayard
29/11/1992 – 28/2/2011
Alexander Torsten Kilpin
15/11/1991 – 22/10/ 2010
Alexia Violet Haenga
02/10/1993 – 09/10/2010
Mountain of strength, sums up
your name
A warrior’s battle, not fought in vain
Your loving heart, caring and true
Always thinking of others, and not
about you.
Your cheeky smile, and great sense
of humour
Brought a sunny day, to a
darkened room
However bad, things would be
You never looked for sympathy
You kept your faith, and did
not waiver
Your eyes were fixed, upon
your saviour
Though we miss you, every day
More than mortal, words can say
No more suffering, and no more pain
Some day we will be with you again
Love Mum, Dad and Tony
“I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself
and be sad. I appreciate life. Think about
what you would change. Do it now. Life is too short. Experience it all” (from Alex’s blog Cancer Journey)
We mark your first anniversary soon
bub, yet it still seems like yesterday.
You were given only days after
diagnosis, but you blessed us with an
amazing 3 weeks.
The strength and courage you held
still astounds us all. We hold on to
the teachings you unconsciously left
behind.
To live everyday as if it were your last,
and love as though you have never
been hurt before.
Your laugh continues to fill our home.
Your smile remains infectious. Your
love is forever beyond measure.
Alyssa Fae Hardy
02/04/1989 – 08/02/2007
THE TIDE RECEDES BUT LEAVES BEHIND
BRIGHT SEA SHELLS ON THE SAND,
THE SUN GOES DOWN,
BUT GENTLE WARMTH
STILL LINGERS ON THE LAND,
THE MUSIC STOPS, AND YET
IT ECHOES ON IN SWEET REFRAINS…
FOR EVERY JOY THAT PASSES
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL REMAINS.
WE LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH
ALYSSA
LOVE MUM, DAD AND FENELLA
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Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
Caitlin Niamh Torr Peoples
08/12/2005 – 09/02/2008
Our dearest Caitlin was born with
Congenital giant melanocytic nevus
and neurocuteanous melanosis.
A giant mole all over her body and
hundreds of satellite moles with an
added complication of moles inside
her brain requiring a shunt to relieve
the pressure on her brain. Once her body had adjusted to her
shunt, she became a normal happy
toddler, who was always crawling
around with a mischief smile on her
face. She loved being outside and
playing with her sisters and brother. At 18 months, Caitlin developed
melanoma in her back muscle, and
although this was all removed, 6
months later it travelled to her brain. We remember the great times we had
with her on our holiday trips to the
beach, to the farm, destinations in the
North and South Island, her general
love for life and her tremendous sense
of humour. We miss her immensely
and not a day goes by without us
thinking of her.
Tracey, Marty, Kimberley, Natalie
and Matthew Peoples
We salute you our brave butterfly...
Happy, happy birthday Bubba xox
Love from your whanau.
Breeze Jermaine
Moeahu - Tairua
(BJ, Bully Basher, Little One, Mok*One)
09/02/1994 - 04/10/2008
You are not alone
For we are here with you
Though you are far away
we are here to stay
You are not alone
For we are here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in our hearts
For you are not alone.
(Breeze chose this song for his tangi) Loving son, brother, uncle, whanau
member of many & friend
Aroha tino nui.
Remembering those we love who continue to live on in our hearts...
Degen Myles Anthony Meyer
27/05/2009 – 29/11/2009
Isaiah Tipene Hape
08/06/1996 – 20/12/2010
So plant your own garden and
decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers. A missed & loved Son and Brother who
will always be in our hearts forever. Safe in Jehovahs memory awaiting
the Ressurection hope Acts 24.15
-Veronica Shoffstall
Johnsal Ioane Semi
MY LITTLE SUNSHINE
SUNRISE: 03/05/2009 SUNSET:19/08/2010
You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skys are great
You never know dear how much
I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away You were like a sunshining in our
hearts when you were born. But sadly
this sunshine of ours has gone but it still
shines in our hearts and in our minds.
Kristin Monique Osborne
18/05/1998 – 17/07/2006
Forever in our hearts and in our minds.
You touched the hearts of everyone
you met. We miss you, we love you.
We now have a new normal which
has a huge hole in it.
Love Mum, Dad and Alecia
Jessica Anne Elizabeth
Ricketts
04/12/1994 – 17/12/2010
MY ANGEL
I wake in the morning
I look up to the sky
I wonder why he took you
Before I was ready to say goodbye
We love you baby Johnsal and we
missed you so much.
Lots of love, hugs and kisses for our
little angel from your grandparents,
uncles, aunties, cousins and especially
from your brothers and sisters and
heaps from your parents John and
Sally. You are in a better place.
In the hands of GOD.
I look up to the stars at night
And know you’re looking down
I’d like to think you’re proud of me
But I’m just stumbling around I crawl into bed at night and close my eyes
And realise that you’re gone
Then come the fears and tears
And life just seems so wrong I glance up to the heavens
And know you’re flying by
My Angels watching over me
I say as I cry
In our arms for a moment, in our
hearts forever.
Jed Roberts
18/09/1993 – 10/04/2011
Jed loved son and buddy of Debbie
and Dean, best friend and big brother
of Lia passed away at Starship
Auckland after a 19 month battle with
ALL (Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia)
Ex Mount Maunganui College student
was described as a quiet, gentle,
dignified young man whose humour
would always be remembered.
“Shine on you Crazy Diamond”
Lucas Wilson
28/06/2006 – 03/07/2008
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s over
three years since we lost you. A
much loved son, little brother, family
member and friend. A little boy that
bought so much light and joy to us
and everyone you met.
Jami Raukura Orchard
17/07/1991 – 22/04/2011
‘Whakatopa i nga hau o te rangi e
hine’. Soar high & free in the sky
our girl. Missing ur smile xoxo
You were our little lion heart, your
strength of spirit amazing. Our lives
will never be the same, because of you.
We love you Lucas. Daddy, Mummy
Gabby and Bryony.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
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Memorials - Remembering those we love continued...
Tyrone Cherokee Takarehe Rollo
03/05/1995 – 27/09/2010
From the time you were born you
filled our lives with joy.
You made us laugh and cry but most
of all you made us happy. You inspired
us with your courage.
The memories we have of you shall be
cherished. When we picture you it will
be with tenderness and a smile.
Your passing leaves us with an emptiness
that can never be filled. Not a moment
passes when we don’t think of you.
There are never enough words that
can describe how much we miss you.
You shall remain forever in our hearts
and mind.
Our eternal love
Mum, Desiree, Alicia, Peata and Esmay
Quiin Thomas Nevada Joesph
McKay
14/05/2007 – 28/09/2010
To My Darling Quiin
A FLOWER MAY DIE,THE SUN MAY
SET, BUT A SPECIAL BOY AND SON
LIKE YOU I WILL NEVER FORGET. YOUR
NAME IS PRECIOUS, IT WILL NEVER
GROW OLD IT’S ENGRAVED IN MY
HEART IN LETTERS OF GOLD... I LOVE
U QUIIN THOMAS NEVADA JOESPH
MCKAY FOREVER AND ALWAYS
Our Quiiny was only 3 and the most
beautiful person I had ever known
He showed us all what amazing
strength truly meant
Even tho in his eyes we knew he was
hurting he never ever complained not
once, for that is truly what brave means
He held our hands and told us he was
ok just so we felt better, for that he
was a true gentlemen
And oh he was so handsome he had a
smile that would light up the darkest
of rooms
Natasha Grace Redmond
03/01/1996 – 29/05/2011
Our darling Tash,
It feels like our circle of love has been
broken.
Without you with us, our life will be
so empty.
They say time heals.... we will wait
and see.
You are our angel, our precious baby
girl. Our treasured gift; but you were
only on loan.
Words cannot explain our love for you.
We miss you so much our hearts ache.
We have been surely blessed to have
had you in our life.
Sleep easy now our baby girl, until we
see you again, We will love you forever.
Our loss is heaven’s gain.
So brave, so courageous, so strong, so
beloved are you Tash.
Love Mum, Dad, Shane and Craig.
xoxoxoxo
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Serenity Jayde Taylor Wallace
18/06/2005 – 06/11/2010
Daughter of Abigail Wallace
My Angel Darling it was time
for you to fly
My Angel Darling I never wanted
to say goodbye
I keep thinking why you, why my
little Princess
So Sweet and innocent and loving
Living on is hard without you
Each day there’s your absence
Tho you are always in my heart
I am thriving on your memory
so we never are apart
Love always - MUMMY
Nani’s Babycake
You turned 5 and were diagnosed
We froze forever but kept composed
We Wrapped you in love Serenity
Princess
Always doing the things you loved
the best
Four months later you were
taken away
I ♥ U Baby cakes
You were your mummy’s first love, her
best friend and her baby boy if i could
give my last breath to bring you home
to mummy i would, she tells your
brothers everyday about you and they
are always looking at your photos and
smiling and that’s when we know that
you are watching over them
I hope your heaven is full of laughter
and happiness and most of all I hope
you are doing all the things you
couldn’t do while you were here
I hope you play from the time the sun
shines till the sun goes to bed because
you deserve to play my darling and
don’t forget Oma will save her last
dance for you oxoxox
We love you our beautiful little man and
we miss you more than words can say
Love your Oma and all your whanau
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Elle Maree Taare
03/10/1994 – 07/07/2007
Our beautiful Elle. We miss you so
much it hurts. Your strength and your
courage still inspires us every day.
You were so very precious.
Love Mummy and family.
Zack’s
Dad’s
Story
ABOVE: The McCormick family - Dad Glen, Zack, Hannah, Clare and Mum Mel.
Fathers are less inclined to talk about the cancer journey than mothers who are more
likely to get together and chat. Palmerston North Dad Glen very kindly agreed to share
his experiences during his son Zack’s journey, for all the fathers out there!
Our family’s journey began back in
April 2008, two months before we ever
heard the words “your son has a brain
tumour.” Zack went from being your
typical happy nine-month-old baby just
starting to walk around holding furniture,
laughing and playing with his two-yearold sister Clare, to needing to be held
nearly 24 hours a day. Melanie and I
were getting very worried about Zack’s
worsening condition. Working all day
and taking care of Zack at night to give
Mel a break was starting to take its toll,
emotionally we were both very tired.
brain tumour.” I could not see that day
having a happy ending. That first day
was very intense, I met Zack and Mel at
Starship at 10.30am. It was a big shock
seeing our son on a stretcher full of
tubes and lines with monitors beeping
away, I felt very helpless. We met Zack’s
neurosurgeon Mr Andrew Law at 11am
and found out that Zack was going into
surgery straight away. At 1pm I gave Zack
a kiss as he was wheeled off to theatre,
it seemed to take forever but at 7pm we
got the call to say that Zack was back in
PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit).
On the 6th of June while away on a
business trip, I woke, looked at my
phone and noticed I had 10 missed calls
and a couple of voice messages. Mel had
called to tell me Zack was in Palmerston
North Hospital, that he was very sick
and having seizures. When I called back
my father-in-law Colin answered and
told me what they had found.
We soon found out that this day was
just the start of the challenges that lay
ahead for Zack. Over the next 12 weeks
we faced many hurdles. Post-surgery
Zack got a blood clot in his brain leaving
him with little right sided movement
and also peripheral vision loss and the
hydrocephalus continued so he needed
a shunt (brain drain) to remove excess
CSF. Then we found out he needed six
months of chemotherapy. I have always
tried to keep a realistic “expect the
worst, hope for the best” attitude but
once you hear “your child has cancer”
it tends to knock you around a bit.
Zack was diagnosed with a Choroid
Plexus Papilloma tumour in the left
lateral ventricle in his brain. It had most
likely been growing in his head since
he was a baby and it had caused his
Choroid Plexus to over produce cerebral
spinal fluid (CSF) increasing the pressure
in his head. Hydrocephalus, (water on
the brain), had been making him sick.
Zack required urgent surgical attention
so he was transferred on the first “Life
Flight” available to Starship that same
morning. My two hour wait at Starship
for Zack and Mel was horrible, I still
remember it taking a couple of phone
calls to my Dad to just say “Zack has a
Zack’s hydrocephalus we still spend lots
of time in hospital. Having to balance
wanting to look after Zack when he is
sick and working to keep an income
coming in can be very stressful, I still find
leaving Zack and Mel in Hospital tough.
Throughout all the ups and downs Zack
has taken everything in his stride and
today he is a happy four year old laughing
and playing with his sisters. We are very
proud of them also, Clare is now five and
Hannah three in December. When Zack
gets sick they never complain when we
ship them off too Nana and Poppa’s they just want to know if Zack will be all
right and if he is coming home soon.
We are very grateful to the support
we have had from the Child Cancer
Foundation and our regional Family
Support Coordinator Robyn Booker.
Robyn has supported us through some
pretty tough times, she is amazing, and
the biggest thanks has to be to our
family and friends who supported us
through our/Zack’s cancer journey.
Mel was four months pregnant when
we started Zack’s treatment, so I would
travel to Starship with them for all of
the chemotherapy rounds. When we
ended up in Palmerston North hospital
with neutropenia, Mel would do the day
shift and I would go straight from work
to do the night shift. Being involved
in all of Zack’s treatment has made
it easier to cope with all he has been
through. Because of complications with
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
13
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Our Latest Events
FAR RIGHT:
Star of Courage
LEFT: MC
Jason Gunn as
Frank Spencer
Beads of Courage Ball 2011, Christchurch
We were privileged this year to hold our annual
Beads of Courage Ball at the Christchurch International
Airport in August, a world first, thanks to our Board
member Jim Boult who is Chief Executive of the Airport.
With the last flight departing at 4.30pm and the guests arriving
at 6pm, the challenges were immense.
The event was originally booked to take place at the Hotel Grand Chancellor
which is now being demolished after being severely damaged in the February 22nd
earthquake. Canterbury Funding and Business Development Manager Clare Wilkinson
was on the verge of cancelling the event but had such a strong response from
supporters asking us to press ahead, that they needed something to look forward to,
she decided to do whatever it took to make it happen. And what a job she did!
RIGHT: Jet planes
contributed to a
unique setting
MC Jason Gunn kept the fun alive all night for many Cantabrians who were pleased
to be out celebrating in Christchurch again at last! The auction was a great success
with the evening resulting in over $70,000 net profit.
One of the most popular auction items was the Star of Courage artwork created
by children with cancer to show their ideal dream world, which went for $2,300.
Thanks to Sharon Ovenden from Longueville Gallery who put it all together and put
the finishing touches on.
Champions Luncheon, Wellington
This year’s Champions Luncheon in Wellington was the most successful Champions
Luncheon ever raising a record amount. The luncheon was also the culmination of
rugby personality Josh Kronfeld’s Chopper for Child Cancer ride from Auckland to
Wellington. The chopper was auctioned for $40,000.
Bald in the Heat, Hawke’s Bay
ABOVE: Josh Kronfeld at the lunch
surrounded by local children.
The clippers were running red hot at the official shave off for Bald in the Heat at the
Duke of Gloucester in August. Thirty seven firefighters from around Hawke’s Bay
turned out to shave their heads for Child Cancer. Six of the Firemen were also joined
by their young sons who bravely had their locks shaved to support their dads. The
night raised close to $23,000, with the Havelock North Volunteer Brigade raising the
largest amount of just over $6,000 – half of which was raised by the ‘lone female’
firefighter, Anita Murrell.
Thanks to the Duke of Gloucester who hosted the night once again, the girls
from Upmarket Hair, EIT Hairdressing School and Waggs and Amy from More FM
who kept the donations flowing.
LEFT: Volunteer firefighters
Anita Murrell from Havelock North
with Ian Lilburn from Bayview.
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Your inner princess launched for kids with cancer
New Plymouth Mum Joanne Watson has
launched a project to keep her artistic
spirit alive while her daughter Emma
goes through treatment for leukaemia,
and at the same time bring colour to the
lives of other little girls with cancer.
Joanne is hand-making headbands for
young girls going through hair loss
caused by treatment.
“Your Inner Princess” is a not for profit
venture that Joanne hopes will bring
a little joy to young girls who may be
struggling with feeling pretty. When her
youngest daughter Emma lost her hair
during intense chemotherapy, she struggled
to find her nice accessories so started
making her own floral headbands. No two
are alike and custom orders can be made.
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“Losing your hair can be a challenge
as hard to face as the actual treatment
and to be given something unexpected,
something that can be worn on a head
full of hair or equally on one as bald as
can be, can lift moods and have a really
positive result,” Joanne says.
Through sponsorship and public sales,
Jo is generously providing the headbands
free to children on the cancer journey.
To have a look at some of Joanne’s
designs go to http://www.facebook.com/
pages/Your-Inner-Princess/
168490356544428 or for more information
email Jo at [email protected] or
call/text her on 027 368 6030.
RIGHT: Jo’s gorgeous daughter Emma
models one of the headbands.
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Volunteer
- Isla Osborne
Our wonderful Beads of Courage® champion Isla Osborne, has been
hand making glass milestone Beads of Courage for over five years
as well as coordinating the 20 glass artists who help her make them.
The Foundation needs roughly 5,000 hand-made glass milestone
beads a year as part of its Beads of Courage® programme.
This year Isla is aiming for 75 artists to regularly donate beads, a
big ask considering there are perhaps only about 100 glass artists
in the country.
ABOVE: Isla at work
“At the moment I organise donations of all the hand-made beads
in the programme. I find glass artists willing to participate, send
out information, anneal beads and clean up rough edges, package
them and get them to the CCF,” Isla says.
The artists produce Act of Courage beads, Bone Marrow Transplant
treatment milestone beads, Purple Hearts and Butterfly beads.
2012 Child C
ancer
Appeal Mont
h Call Out
Planning is underw
ay to make the
2012 Child Cancer
Appeal Month ou
r best ever!
If you would like to
volunteer to help
collect on Beads of
Courage Day on Fr
iday 23 March 20
12, please contact
08 00 42 44 53 or
us on
visit www.childca
ncer.org.nz to regis
ter.
It’s easy to help an
d just an hour or tw
o spent
collecting can ma
ke a real differenc
e in the lives
of children with ca
ncer. Isla’s work is very much appreciated by Auckland Family Support
Coordinator Janet Masina who manages the Beads of Courage®
Programme. “Isla is all that and more!” says Janet. “Her
coordination makes it so much easier for us, with her knowledge
and quality control. She is fantastic.”
To get involved please email Isla at [email protected]
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
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Regional News from our Branches:
AUCKLAND – NORTHLAND REGION
WAIKATO
Northland - The Northland area has
We hope you all have kept warm over these
past few cold months. Roll on summer!
been ticking along nicely this year, with
not many new members – just the way
we like it!
We enjoyed a great bus trip to the Waiwera
Hot Pools in July, with 33 people enjoying
a leisurely day of soaking in the lovely
pools, then rushing down the slides,
followed by a delicious barbecue,
cooked by Jeff and Nick, with the rest
of the hard work of preparing everything
done by their partners Riana and Gloria.
Our heartfelt thanks go as always to
Athol Cave, for donating the bus and the
petrol, and to Gene Netzler the driver,
who gives his time to us for free.
We have decided to have our Christmas
Party in Whangarei this year, and we
will send out flyers to let you know
where and when it will be held.
Lastly - we have had a very generous
donation of $1500 from the Whangarei
Zonta group, in memory of Raewyn
Tonks, who was a member of Zonta for
many years. Raewyn was our previous
Chairperson, who sadly passed away
earlier this year.
Looking forward, our Branch Mums have
enjoyed getting together, and making
jewellery to sell for Child Cancer Appeal
Month. The Mums enjoyed these mornings
so much we are planning another jewellery
morning sometime in October. Eva will
be in touch with dates.
In July we had a bereavement dinner. It
gave parents of deceased children a time
to reflect on their children’s lives and
share war stories. It was a great privilege
to hear from all parents and a big thank
you to all who attended.
In September we went to “Paint a Plate”
at Splashy. It was a very creative day,
allowing everyone to let out their inner
‘artist’. Beautifully painted mugs and
plates were on show for us, to use in our
own homes (two are pictured). It is one
of our exciting events for the year - we
have some imaginative minds and that
is wonderful to see.
In October we held our ‘Mum and Dad
night out’. We went to Valentines this
year with about 60 who showed up. A
great turnout! Mothers sat and chatted
over a coffee and Dads got together
to play some pool. It’s a great way to
network and find that extra little bit of
support from people who understand
what you are going through.
PICS: The Waiwera Hot Pools trip
was a great day out.
We look forward to seeing you all at our
next events. We are grateful for all of
your help in turning up to what we put
on for your benefit and we love hearing
your feedback.
Auckland - We have had a busy few
months here at Auckland Branch. The
Dads have been on a Dad’s Only Day
Archery Day and our mums have had two
outings. The first a lovely pamper evening
over on the North Shore and the second a
walk at the Botanical Gardens, followed
by a very delicious lunch. Thanks to the
committee members who organised
these events.
Our Annual Zoo day was held again and
although it RAINED buckets a fun day
was held for lots of our families. Thanks
to Mamata Parbhu and family for all
their hard work to give us such a great
day. We presented Pat Wilkes (past
Chairperson and current Board member)
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Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
with a CCF Distinguished Services
Award. Pat has been working for our
families and walking the journey for
quite a few years now and I know Pat
would like me to mention the wonderful
support he gets from his wife Kathie
and youngest daughter Eilish.
Memorial Day is coming up on November
13th and an invite for our bereaved
families will be coming out soon.
Lastly is a reminder about our Christmas
Party. This will again be held at the
Albany Stadium and if anybody would
like to lend a few hours to help with this
event please feel free to contact me,
Chris Steel, on 09 2989065.
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MID NORTHERN
Eastern Bay Of Plenty
A family day was held during the last school holidays. A good number gathered
together for movies followed by McDonalds for lunch. This will be repeated during
the upcoming holidays. Coffee groups are still being held in the Lutheran church
Hinemoa Street once a month.
Many thanks go to Chelsea Thompson, Madison Atkins and Dayna Studer, students
from Trident High School. They held a candyfloss stall to fundraise for us as a Business
Enterprise activity - “ kids helping kids,” they said. Thanks also to Tait Kora who
organised a fashion show as another fundraiser. All the models were staff from
Whakatane Hospital with local businesses supplying the clothing and accessories.
We would love to have more people on our committee, so if there are any parents
out there with a couple of spare hours a month we would welcome seeing you.
ABOVE: One of the Bay of Plenty doctors,
Christian Hurling, pitching in at the Fashion Show!
RIGHT: Ariana Pohio-Houlihan,
Georgia Pigott, Harriet Savage and
Patch Savage with some of the
shadow boxes they created.
Lakes
Tairawhiti
We held parents nights in both Taupo
and Rotorua over the past couple
of months, attended and enjoyed by
many parents.
Tairawhiti/Gisborne Branch held a holiday art workshop. Some of our children came
along to create 3-dimensional “shadow boxes” containing drawings, beads and
messages of thanks. The shadow boxes will be used as gifts for people in the local
community who have generously supported the Child Cancer Foundation. The
recipients of the art work pictured will be Gisborne emergency services, who
organise and run our major fundraiser for the year, Young Nick’s Fishing Competition.
A very successful quiz night was also
held at Rotorua CT Club and money
raised for the coffers – it has been asked
by many if we will have another one so
please try and come to the next one as
loads of fun was had by all.
We are fortunate that our arty Family Support Worker, Cheryl Scott, has her
own studio where we were able to make these masterpieces. We had so much fun.
Another workshop is planned for the next school holidays, with the intention
of creating enough works to hold an exhibition in a local cafe.
CENTRAL
Wellington
A group of Dads of children with cancer from the Central region
had a great get together at Ohariu Farm recently getting into
some classic boys stuff including axe throwing, clay bird shooting
and archery!
They then introduced some culture with a talk on wine from
Chris Morgan (a Dad who is in the wine industry) followed by
afternoon tea. It was a great day and the Dads all got time to
talk together and renew and form new acquaintances.
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Regional News continued...
CANTERBURY WEST COAST
South Canterbury
We have been having a pretty quiet time
over the past few months but our families
have enjoyed a couple of outings to the
‘Shearers Quarters’ – a local restaurant
and outdoor activities centre with a
wonderful Aladdin’s cave of goodies to
buy in the shop.
building ‘Build a Bike’ day for their staff
and donated two of the made-up bikes.
They chose to give them to siblings,
which was a great boost for them.
funrazor, which is coming up later in the
year is being organised and hopefully
we will have more to report on that at
a later date.
The Queen’s Hotel in Timaru has done
a couple of fundraising events for us,
for which we are very grateful and we
continue to have our donation boxes at
various outlets.
Obituary - Peter Keys
It was with great sadness that as we
were preparing our branch piece for the
magazine, we were told of the passing
of Peter Keys.
A big thank you must go to the Fonterra
factory personnel who held a team
Peter had been actively involved with
the South Canterbury Branch of CCF
since its inception in 1996. He was the
Branch’s first Treasurer and still held that
office until a couple of years ago. He
took a few months off from his Treasurer
duties to look after his late wife Kath
when she was ill, but still remained on
the committee during this time and until
his death.
Peter was always willing to take on jobs
and attend events. He was outstanding
in his role as Treasurer over the years
and was an extremely valued member
of the South Canterbury Branch and will
be sadly missed.
OTAGO - SOUTHLAND
North Otago - North Otago Branch
recently received the proceeds from
the High Country Boar Hunt held in our
area. The event was well supported by
keen pig hunters. The Branch appreciate
the commitment of The Oamaru Club
as well as local business and individuals
who make this event possible.
BELOW: Madie King with her
mother Mary-Lee
Dunedin - We would like to dedicate
this article to a local family, the Kings.
It is extremely hard and tiring to go through
the treatment journey when your child
has been diagnosed with cancer. Time
seems to stand still and race by all at the
same time.
Madie King lives in Dunedin, she was
diagnosed with a rare cancer last
September. She was 11 years old. Her
family, Dad Steve, Mum Mary-Lee and
sister Sophie and of course Madie are still
going through the long treatment journey.
When Madie was diagnosed, Mary-Lee
said to her that if she lost her hair, then she
too, would shave her hair off in support.
Mary-Lee and Steve decided that if they
were going to have their heads shaved,
then they wanted to raise money for Child
Cancer. They wanted to give back to an
organisation that helped them.
They decided to hold a “Head Shave” and
auction night at a local hotel, the Commercial
Tavern in Green Island, and this was set for
Wednesday 13 July. Mary-Lee organised
and arranged everything despite
Madie having unexpected complications
and being very unwell at times.
The whole community came out to
support this wonderful family. You could
hardly move as children and adults rallied
around to have their heads shaved, bid
on auctions and buy raffle tickets. Over
$12,500 has been raised for the Child
Cancer Foundation by this wonderful
family who is still travelling down the
long road of treatment.
Thank you to the King family. We are
so very grateful to you not only for
the funds you have raised but for your
warm, positive attitude. You are an
inspiration to us all.
Southland Branch - Well done to
Michael Stevenson, Frazer Lieshout and
Callum Harvey, (pictured). Three fantastic
young men from Gore managed to
combine six month’s of going without
a haircut or a shave into a successful
fundraising venture. They raised $1,136.
In June our branch organised a celebratory
afternoon in Invercargill to present
Robyn Kelly with her Community Services
award for her dedication to the Child
Cancer Foundation.
The Southland branch enjoyed a midwinter outing of Lazerstrike Glow in the
Dark Mini Golf and Chipmunks followed by
dinner and a catch up at the Kelvin hotel.
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Huge thanks to all our fantastic sponsors, we couldn’t do it without you!
GOLD STAR
SPONSORS:
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PARTNERS:
FUNDING
PARTNERS:
Guardian Trust | Pelorus Trust | Southern Trust | Lion Foundation | Four Winds Foundation | Infinity Foundation Robinson
Trust - Diana and Andrew Robinson | New Zealand Lottery Grants Board | BA Lewis Charitable Trust | Youthtown Trust
| Ernest Hyam Davis Trust | Kathleen Dorothy Kirkby Charitable Trust | Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust | Thomas George
Macarthy Trust | NZ Community Trust | The Elaine Gurr Endowment Trust | Mt Wellington Foundation | The Trusts
Charitable Foundation | The Mainland Foundation.
Supporter Update
RCP is a new Gold Star sponsor, here to help the Foundation financially, with
resources and fundraising. RCP held a mid-winter Christmas dinner in July to
introduce our new partnership to staff and key clients and to raise funds. RCP
is an award-winning provider of professional Project Management and Project
Programming services to New Zealand’s property industry.
In November, one of RCP’s staff, Matt Murphy, will run the New York Marathon,
also raising funds for the Child Cancer Foundation. Matt is a father of two young
children of his own and is keen to make a difference. We can’t wait to see how
he goes in the Big Apple!
OTAGO MERINO ASSOCIATION - The Child Cancer Foundation has
received nearly $6,000 from the Otago Merino Association following the Merino
Excellence Awards evening at Skyline, Queenstown on the 17 June, 2011. The
money came from the annual Child Cancer Fleece competition and auction.
This year’s competition attracted 142 fleeces, which were donated along with
other non-competition fleeces. That brings the total raised by the Association
and the annual fundraiser to an estimated $100,000 in the past 21 years.
The woolly fundraiser was started by Mary and Gerald Goodger, parents of Francesca
who was diagnosed with a kidney tumour in 1986 when she was just five. Francesca
is 29 and now lives in Melbourne.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
19
Christmas
jewels with
purpose!
Support the
Child Cancer Foundation
by purchasing
two stylish pieces of
Kagi jewellery, perfect
for christmas gifts!
Jewels of Purpose Bracelet
Gemstones for this meaningful bracelet have been selected for their
nurturing properties including soothing amazonite, harmonic clear quartz,
and protecting turquoise. A silver charm of the Child Cancer Foundation
logo (a mother holding a child) complete this stunning bracelet.
$30 from every bracelet sold goes directly
to the Child Cancer Foundation.
CHRISTMAS OFFER - Purchase a Jewels of Purpose
bracelet for $95 and get a second one half price!
B RAV E H EART N E C K LA C E
Features a facetted onyx heart threaded onto a string
of cream freshwater pearls.
CHRISTMAS OFFER - Purchase a Braveheart necklace
for $180 and receive a Jewels of Purpose bracelet.
To order one of these christmas specials please contact
Meredith Free on 09 303 9973 or [email protected]
LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE.
Every child and their family walking the child cancer journey will never feel alone.
National Office
PHONE 0800 4 CHILD
FACEBOOK Visit Child Cancer
76 Grafton Road
Grafton, Auckland 1010
PHONE (09) 366-1270
(0800 4 24453)
EMAIL [email protected]
WEB www.childcancer.org.nz
TWITTER Foundation page
ChildCancerNZ