March 2013 - Child Cancer Foundation

sharing
MARCH 2013
2013
Appeal
INSIDE:
Hilton, Myah
and Emilie
I NS IDE:
FAREWE
L
SKYL
Y
A’s STOR
L TO
LADY BL
U N DE L L
LIFE
KES
AFTER THE QUA
Daily Contacts
National Office
76 Grafton Road, Grafton
Auckland 1010
PHN (09) 366 1270
FAX (09) 377 9395
WEB www.childcancer.org.nz
or freephone us on
0800 4 CHILD (0800 4 24453)
Child Cancer Foundation throughout New Zealand:
NORTHERN REGION
The Family Place
PO Box 152, Shortland Street
Auckland 1140
76 Grafton Road, Grafton
Auckland 1010
PHN (09) 366 1270
FAX (09) 377 9395
EML akl.familyplace@childcancer.org.nz
Hawkes Bay Branch
Tony Bryan
PHN (06) 878 2229
MOB 027 570 5908
EML as_bryan@xtra.co.nz
Christchurch Branch
Grant Upjohn
PHN (03) 359 9200
MOB 027 201 1205
EML jenandgrant@xtra.co.nz
Northland Branch
Louise O’hagan
PHN (09) 437 3181
MOB 021 044 4613
EML ccfnthchair@gmail.com
Central region
The Family Place
PO Box 7062
Newtown, Wellington 6242
27 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Wellington 6021
PHN (04) 389 2620
FAX (04) 389 2690
EML aoconnor@childcancer.org.nz
North Canterbury Branch
Francie Clark
PHN (03) 327 9489
MOB 027 749 6990
EML francie.clark@clear.net.nz
Auckland Branch
Chris Steel
PHN (09) 298 9065
MOB 021 0293 0034
EML steeldc@xtra.co.nz
Wellington Branch
Dean Bradley
PHN (04) 479 4162
MOB 021 407 125
EML dean@cmnzl.co.nz
Waikato Branch
Vincent Tuioti
PHN (07) 843 8977
MOB 027 230 3691
EML vincent.tuioti@acc.co.nz
Manawatu / Wanganui Branch
Rere Whiteman
PHN (06) 343 8627
MOB 027 733 7799
EML rere.whiteman@xtra.co.nz
Tauranga Branch
Debbie Roberts
PHN (07) 542 0086
MOB 021 542 022
EML liadebdean@gmail.com
Nelson Branch
Jeannette Bent
PHN (03) 543 2324
MOB 027 454 3232
EML nelsonbranch@childcancer.org.nz
Tairawhiti Branch
Louise Savage
PHN (06) 862 3716
MOB 027 260 2750
EML louisesavage@farmside.co.nz
Marlborough Branch
Nanette Buchanan-Brown
PHN (03) 574 1228
MOB 027 338 2086
EML mussel1@xtra.co.nz
Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch
Yvonne Osborne
PHN (07) 307 0939
MOB 027 211 9129
EML osbyt@xtra.co.nz
Taranaki Branch
Victoria Lewis
PHN (06) 751 3035
MOB 021 156 1653
EML victorialewis@remax.net.nz
Lakes Branch
Win Macmillan
PHN (07) 345 8144
MOB 027 476 3010
EML win@nztravelbrokers.co.nz
Canterbury/West coast region
PO Box 1846
Christchurch Mail Centre 8140
297 Russley Road, Avonhead,
Christchurch 8042
PHN (03) 365 1485
FAX (03) 365 5102
EML mwalker@childcancer.org.nz
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Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
South Canterbury Branch
Mark Leonard
PHN (03) 684 6161
MOB 021 149 2141
EML leomotors@xtra.co.nz
Otago/southland region
The Family Place
PO Box 579, Dunedin 9054
28 London Street
Dunedin 9016
PHN (03) 471 7258
FAX (03) 471 7259
EML cdonovan@childcancer.org.nz
Central Otago Branch
Lynda Read
PHN (03) 445 1299
EML achil@xtra.co.nz
Southland Branch
Jo McAslan
PHN (03) 207 2550
EML mcaslan@xtra.co.nz
Dunedin Branch
Des Adamson
PHN (03) 474 3785
MOB 027 278 4132
EML dadamson@dcc.govt.nz
North Otago Branch
Sharon Greaney
PHN (03) 431 3914
MOB 021 265 1350
EML peterpan.zip@xtra.co.nz
Contents
CEO Corner
3
Farewell to our Patron Lady Blundell
10
Our Faces of Appeal
4
Kids’ Section
12
Skyla - Her Story
5
Caitlin’s Journey
14
Our New Glass Beads Coordinator, Kari
15
TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY
- CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE The Galbraith Family
6
Our Christchurch Team
- How they have Coped
Health Professionals Report
16
8
Regional News
18
Cover: Hilton McCullough, Myah Tasker and Emilie Johns. Photo: Sam Mothersole
CEO Corner
Welcome to the first edition of Sharing for 2013.
One of the things I look forward to after coming back from the
Christmas break is welcoming the children who will represent
the Child Cancer Foundation for our Annual Appeal.
It is my pleasure to introduce you to
Emilie Johns, who is four and lives in
Point Wells, near Auckland; Hilton
McCullough five from Lower Hutt
and Myah Tasker who is six and lives
in Mosgiel, near Dunedin.
Thank you Emilie, Hilton, and Myah
and your families for helping us raise
funds and awareness during March.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Appeal Month is once again full of
exciting events and is to be launched
at the Steve Price Night of Courage
at Alexandra Park, on March 1.
Following that will be a host of
great events including the Mount
Beach Bald at Mt Maunganui, the
Crusaders Evening of Courage in
Christchurch, the Professionals Paint
the Town Red Charity Breakfast and
Auction in Rotorua and the Central
Plateau Scooter Challenge from
Wanganui to Taupo.
Sarah Thomson
CEO - Child Cancer Foundation
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
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Child Cancer Ambassadors 2013
Emilie
Johns
Hilton
McCullough
Myah
Tasker
is four and lives in Point Wells, near
Auckland. She was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in July,
2012. She had more bruises than usual
with a particularly nasty one on her
hip, from a minor bump. The first phase
of Emilie’s treatment affected her leg
movement and she could only walk with
her parents taking full support under
both armpits. She is now able to walk
unaided. She still walks on the tips of
her toes, which can be a side effect
of treatment and her legs “give way”
sometimes, but her parents know she
is having a good day when she turns
her music up loud, puts on her Rapunzel
wig and rocks out some moves! Emilie
is now on maintenance treatment and
Emilie has over 120 Beads of Courage®.
is five and lives in Lower Hutt. He was
diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukaemia in March, 2012. Hilton’s
treatment has been in Christchurch
where he was known for his positive
attitude. He was always playing pranks
on the nurses, even when he developed
some serious infections. Hilton’s passion
is his motorsport. He often cruises parks
and river banks on his quad bike with
his Dad close behind on his mountain
bike. Hilton enjoys being part of Child
Cancer Foundation’s network of families.
Hilton currently has over 420 beads
and is now on maintenance treatment.
is six and lives in Mosgiel, near Dunedin.
Myah’s cancer journey started before she
was born, when an ultrasound showed
a tumour in her kidney at 38 weeks.
She was immediately delivered through
caesarean section, and five weeks later
had her kidney removed. The tumour
was diagnosed as Wilms tumour and
intensive chemotherapy followed.
By the age of one, Myah was given
the “all clear” but last year a routine
ultrasound showed an abnormality
which when investigated showed
that Myah had recurrent disease.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
followed and by October last year
Myah had completed treatment for the
second time. Myah’s interests are fairy
princesses, elephants and anything pink!
She also loves drawing, baking and
ballet. Myah has over 1,000 Beads
of Courage®.
Beads of Courage® is a United States federally registered trademark
of Beads of Courage®, Inc., and is used under license.
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Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
2013
Blossoming
in Northland
Northland Mum Susan
Hoult shares her daughter
Skyla’s journey with
Neuroblastoma. Skyla is
now a thriving six-yearold towering over her
classmates in the far North.
At 37 weeks pregnant, my
midwife ordered a scan for me
as she couldn’t quite tell how
my baby was sitting. During
that scan a shadow was noticed
over Skyla’s kidney. This meant
when I delivered her I had to
travel to Whangarei Hospital
in case she required urgent
medical care. In the back of
my mind I had a sinking feeling
in my stomach, I did nothing
wrong during my pregnancy
didn’t smoke, drink, or do drugs,
and I did everything by the book
as it was my first baby.
When she was born she looked perfect.
Another scan was done at Whangarei
Hospital and the shadow was still there
so we were shipped off to Starship
where tests and scans began and at
five-days-old Skyla underwent a
mammoth operation which removed
a Neuroblastoma tumour the size of
a tennis ball and her adrenal gland.
Photo: Skyla now blooming with good health.
Credit: Tammylou Photography
she had a 90% chance of the other
tumours going away on their own, but
she had to be monitored closely over
the next few months.
Sadly, three and half months later
another large tumour started to grow
by her belly button. She underwent
another operation to do a biopsy and
it was when these results came back
that we found out she had fallen into the
bad 10% that would require treatment.
Merry Christmas to us. On 21 December,
2006, she had a Hickman Line inserted.
We were allowed home for Christmas
and then she started chemo on the 27th.
She had eight rounds of chemo over the
next six months which really knocked
our poor baby around. After most
rounds she ended up in hospital sick
as a dog and after she came right they
hit her with another round. There were
endless blood transfusions and platelet
transfusions. She even went down with
Septicaemia, it was not a good time.
After the six months of treatment she
was given the all clear, but again needed
close monitoring.
We had a massive 1st birthday and
remission party when she turned one
- it was awesome.
Skyla has now been in remission for
five years. She is now six years and four
months old. She loves school - she
attends Mangonui Primary. Skyla has
a large group of close friends that she
loves spending time with.
She is doing really well at school and is
at the level of every other child at her
age. She is a very active girl and she
loves running around and playing sports
just like any other six-year-old. She
especially loves swimming and received
a gold medal in her swimming club level.
Despite all the treatment Skyla has been
through, she has grown extremely tall
– she is in the 98th percentile for her
height! Her love of arts and crafts shines
through and she wants to be an Arts
teacher when she is older.
We are very proud of what Skyla has
achieved in her very challenging life.
Susan Hoult (Mum)
At the time of her operation, the doctors
saw the tumours were all over her liver.
After two weeks in Auckland Hospital
and Starship we were allowed to go
home as the doctors had decided that
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
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* CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE * CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE * CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE * CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE
THE CANTERBURY
EARTHQUAKE
- A Two Year
Anniversary
RIGHT: Katrina and Gerry Galbraith with their beautiful
daughters Libby (next to Dad) and Jess.
It is two years since the catastrophic February 22, 2011 earthquake
hit Christchurch. Child Cancer Foundation staff, volunteers, members
and families have faced unprecedented challenges in the aftermath at home, in schools and in their workplaces.
Katrina and Gerry Galbraith,
and their children Libby, (15)
who has Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukaemia (ALL) and her
sister Jess, (14) have had an
extraordinarily tough two years,
even by Christchurch standards!
Katrina and Libby share below a
glimpse of what it has been like
tackling cancer in the Orange Zone.
Libby had just started treatment
for ALL, days before the February
earthquake. (She was diagnosed on
the 2nd of February, 2011). She was
on a very heavy treatment round and
was very sick with many infections
and complications. She was in hospital
when the big earthquake struck and
was evacuated outside for the first few
hours. We never got to her until about
7.00pm that night. I stayed with Libby
in hospital for the next one to two
weeks, CHOC (Children’s Hematology
and Oncology Centre) patients had been
evacuated to Christchurch Women’s
hospital as CHOC was not safe initially.
Libby saw some terrible sights as she
waited outside the hospital. She developed
a lung infection three weeks later,
possibly related to the dust she inhaled.
Part of her lung had to be cut away.
Jess and Gerry took the caravan
to Springfield (about 40km out of
Christchurch) and stayed there for the
next few weeks. This became a safe
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haven for Libby and I to come to a few
times when Libby was allowed out for
a few hours - the air was clean (no dust),
and the land didn’t shake as much as in
Christchurch.
The house suffered significant damage
in the September 2010 quake. However,
in the February earthquake the damage
was a lot worse with the internal stair
case moving apart from the wall, the
house being twisted around, the floor
having hills in it, rooms with cracks
you could put your hand through,
ceiling slumping in one area, very
warped outside fences and decking that
separated significantly from the house.
We had no power or water for about
three weeks and no sanitation for much
longer. We used a chemical toilet for
months and with subsequent aftershocks
we had to get the chemical toilet out
several more times over the 18 months as
we were orange zoned, meaning further
investigation was needed to determine
the future of the house. When Libby came
home we had to get another chemical
toilet for her to use exclusively - due to
her very compromised immune system.
It was very stressful with the constant
aftershocks, never knowing when the
next one would come. Was our very
compromised house going to stay
upright?? - Builders who had been
through seemed reasonably confident
we were safe, but there was always
that little bit of fear.
The girls’ school, Marian College, was
also hit very hard and has not been used
since. So there was no school for Jess
(Libby obviously wasn’t at school), for
the next six weeks, and then they had
to co-locate with another school. Their
school operated from 12.30pm to 6pm this meant for us that Jess was left home
alone in the mornings, while we were at
work or at the hospital. (Not ideal in a
very shaky city - Jess was very brave.)
I would do the morning with Libby to
catch the ward round and Gerry would go
in after school (he is a school teacher) and
have tea and part of the evening with her.
This was Jess’s first year at high school, so
she had a lot to deal with, as well.
Jess slept in our room for about three
months - night time seemed scarier
somehow. During the day she was
brilliant - we were able to leave her
home alone and attend to Libby. She did
not like visiting Libby in hospital and on
a few occasions she would feel a little
resentful about all the attention Libby
was getting – all very natural.
Libby’s medical journey had been very
difficult. She has had everything going.
Because she is so prone to infections,
she has had five ports instead of the
usual one and has to inject herself
daily as she is also susceptible to blood
clots. For several months she put in her
own NG tube each night for her food
supplement and each morning she would
take it out again. She did this so there
was one less thing that set her apart
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from her peer group. She required the
tube as she had lost a lot of weight.
Libby went back to school full time
in 2012, she only attended school for
about 30 days during 2011. While still
going through oral chemotherapy,
monthly IV chemotherapy and three
monthly intrathecal chemotherapy and
steroids, she tried to resume rowing,
(one of her sporting passions) but
developed avascular necrosis (AN) in her
knees and shoulder in June,12, (death of
bone tissue due to lack of blood supply).
This means she can only partially weight
bear through her joints and therefore
had to stop her netball, basketball
and rowing. She also had to stop her
monthly steroids which caused the AN.
Steroids are an important part of her
treatment for ALL. She could however
be a cox for rowing, so Libby jumped
at this opportunity to stay involved in
her much loved sport. Luck was not on
her side, however, and 4 weeks ago she
developed a nasty infection in her leg
caused by a similar infection to that
which affected her lung. The infection
most likely came from the Avon
River, which is very dirty due to poor
infrastructure in Christchurch from
the earthquakes. Raw sewage is
frequently discharged into the river.
The risks for Libby to be exposed to
this water were too great, and so
once again the earthquake has paved
a different course for her.
Both girls also had to cope with the loss
of their very much loved Nana, (Gerry’s
Mum). Nana moved to Invercargill
to get away from the shaky city, and
Libby could not get down to say her
goodbyes, due to ongoing treatment in
Christchurch. Through all the stress, my
husband also had a heart attack – what
an unbelievable year!
Living in a house that we knew was
probably going to be demolished was
quite depressing and frustrating. We
were basically living in squalor by the
end - no house maintenance, gardening
or sanitation and the constant worry
about Libby’s health and the indecision
about the zoning colour of our land.
Because we had no head space to consider
moving out, the insurance company
used some of our accommodation
allowance to make our house safe - this
meant internal and external bracing,
lots of gap filler, lots of draughts - we
actually had snow in the hallway one
winter’s evening as it got through the
gap filler. The house was freezing - thank
god for our log burner - our wood and
electric bills were rather high!!
We also saw the very best of human
nature. People - friends and family were
truly amazing with the support they
gave us, meals cooked for us for a whole
year and it would still be happening if
our friends had anything to do with it
now!! Family coming to stay to help out,
fundraising , etc. - just incredible.
We are also receiving amazing support
from both CanTeen and the Child Cancer
Foundation and it is very reassuring
knowing they are there for Libby and
our family.
In some ways the earthquakes were
actually a distraction for Libby. As
Libby said, “she often felt lucky that
while others were out in the streets
with no food, water or toilet she was
in hospital with free food, showers and
a clean environment with people that
were looking after her.” Libby has been
incredibly brave, strong and positive
throughout this whole “ordeal.”
did she have stuff thrown her way.
She certainly coped with the many
side effects in her very brave fashion.
Amazing. She has been our strength
in many ways.
Because Libby is now unable to pursue
most of her sporting passions, she has
put her energy into other talents. After
doing a six week community service
programme at Addington Primary,
the school was so impressed with her
they recommended she apply to the
Children’s Commission, to become one
of the Voices of Youth for New Zealand.
We are currently waiting to hear. Libby
was also elected to be the student
trustee at her school and has passed
NCEA Level One through her internal
assessments throughout the year before
she even sat her external exams.
She is now on maintenance treatment
which consists of nightly oral chemo,
monthly IV chemo, three monthly
intrathecal chemo and steroids, (although
no steroids for Libby at the moment.)
Libby will finish treatment in June.
We are now in our new house. Our old
one was demolished one month ago –
a very strange feeling – we loved that
house pre-earthquake and we loved
the location right on the estuary with
stunning views out to the mountains
and sunsets. We were going to be taken
out of that house in our coffins - but the
earthquake had the final say on that!!
Our new home is a lovely house right
on the beach, only eight km away from
our old home and we feel very lucky to
be settled with most of the Earthquake
Commission bureaucracy behind us.
She just gets on with whatever is
thrown her way, and boy
LEFT: The house just before demolition.
ABOVE RIGHT: The aftermath.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
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THE CANTERBURY
EARTHQUAKE
- A Two Year
Anniversary
continued...
ABOVE RIGHT: Before the quake from left Melissa Walker,
Robin Furley, Christine Graham and Clare Wilkinson.
The second year anniversary of the devastating February 22, 2011 Christchurch
earthquake was marked throughout New Zealand last month. The past two years
have been incredibly difficult for Child Cancer Foundation staff and families in
the Canterbury region. Robin Furley, Family Support Manager South Island, and
Christine Graham, Christchurch Family Support Coordinator agreed to document
the Christchurch team’s journey. It is amazing to read about the many moves and
challenges the team has been through and how at the heart of it all, families who
have courageously dealt with the additional challenges.
Despite having our workplace destroyed
by the Christchurch quakes we feel very
proud that we have been able to keep
our CCF service running for our families.
As staff we had varying degrees of
damage to our homes, breakages and
cracks, but we considered ourselves
lucky to still have our homes, even
though we might not have had power,
water, or a sewage system. At times
each of us has experienced the full
range of emotions and reactions that
you would expect from responding to
a traumatic event and extended crisis.
While our own safety and that of our
families needed to be the priority in the
immediate aftermath of the quake, we
were also very aware of the needs of
our CCF children and families at their
various stages of treatment. The hospital
staff have been incredible and have kept
things going smoothly. CHOC (Children’s
Haematology and Oncology Centre)
was relocated twice to other wards
but the medical care and treatment
has been uninterrupted throughout.
Likewise we have maintained our CCF
service, whether that be family support,
administration or fundraising, amidst the
awful sequence of aftershocks, which
continued for many months.
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In order to do this we needed to be
creative about our work location. One
of the main problems was the loss of our
Family Place at 20 Cashel Street, a grand
old wooden two storey villa with a double
brick wall on the eastern side, which
twisted and fell apart in the shaking.
Because of the damage we had to move
from this building after the September
2010 earthquake. This also affected our
CanTeen colleagues, who were tenants.
When we learned that we were not
allowed on the premises without a
structural engineer present, the staff at
Ronald McDonald House South Island,
further down Cashel Street, very kindly
made space available for us to use as
a base until we found a suitable office
space. They cleared furniture from one
of their bedrooms and loaned us desks
and chairs. We were grateful to briefly
get access to the damaged Family Place
to rescue the essentials for our work.
But initially we were only allowed in the
building with structural engineers and had
15 minutes to quickly grab what we needed.
LEFT:
Checking
out the
damage.
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From this point some of us worked
from our homes, and some from our
temporary place at RMH.
A month later we secured the lease
on the ground floor of a building at 52
Cashel Street, which we were able to
share with CanTeen. Proximity to the
hospital and our families in treatment
was a priority. It was just a block away
from the hospital and our old building.
We were pretty pleased! We were able
to rescue a bit more stuff from our
damaged building to use in our newly
leased Family Place and put the rest into
storage. Yes, we thought, we are in this
new building until our Family Place was
repaired! So we thought ….
Then the earthquake of 22 February,
2011 hit. At the time two of us were in
the Family Place and two were walking
outside near Cashel Mall. We saw the
clouds of dust rising from the CBD and
realised this was a major crisis. It took
us all many hours to get home that day
as the earth rumbled and shook in a
terrifying way. There were crowds of
shocked and traumatised people walking
home and streams of traffic crawling
through detours and flooded streets.
Most of us were desperately trying to
make contact with our own families as
the phone lines were overloaded.
After this quake the cordoned off zone
included the Christchurch CBD and our
new Family Place building. We could
not access our workplace for six weeks.
When we left the Family Place on 22
February we knew enough from our
past experience to take with us what
we needed to continue to work from
home. In the immediate days after the
February quake our Family Support team
throughout the country phoned all of
our current families to see how they
were and to see if there was anything
they needed. This was a great support
to us and to our families. Six weeks
later coming back to clean-up was
not pleasant! Everything lay where it
had fallen, smashed crockery, uneaten
lunches and rotten fruit, six-week-old
rubbish and no power – with a smashed
in front door where Urban Search and
Rescue had been in to see if the building
was clear of people.
Sadly our old building at 20 Cashel
Street was in an even worse state of
repair after the February earthquake and
deteriorated with each aftershock.
Once our leased building was assessed
and the cordoned zone was reduced it
was safe to re- enter and continue work
from there. Being in the CBD in those
early weeks was very eerie as it was like
a warzone or a ghost town with very
little traffic or people around. There were
Army personnel guarding the red zone,
Police everywhere and big demolition
machinery was at work. There were no
shops available, and open functioning
cafes were few and far between.
Unfortunately we only had a couple
more months in that leased building,
as another significant aftershock on
12 June, 2011 destabilised the two tall
buildings either side of us. Now we
were back to working from home again.
We were not to know that this would
continue for a year.
Since June 2011 we have worked from
the following places – our own homes,
the boots of our cars, the Westpac
Community and Business Hub, bedrooms
at the YMCA, cafes, and libraries (where
there was WiFi and a good place to have
a coffee and meet as a team).
2013. Meantime work continues towards
a rebuild of a brand new Family Place at
our original site, number 20, as we call it.
Looking back, we are amazed at how
we got through! But here in Canterbury
we have learned that we never know
what is around the corner in life. So
whatever comes our way we have to
work it through, look after each other,
and face what situations come our
way with courage. And of course our
greatest mentors in this have been the
children and families that we work with
each day. You understand what that is
like, your earthquake event was your
child being diagnosed with cancer. Ours
literally was an earthquake. Our CCF
families inspire us to continue to do
the work that we do. Keeping you all in
mind each day has focused us and been
a gift that has helped us through the last
two and a half years.
Christine and Robin
We have found that working in cafes
isn’t all that glamorous, working from
the boot of a car is a pain, and working
from home, while in some ways it may
be more efficient (i.e. not so many
interruptions depending on your family
situation), it is simply not as good as
working in an environment where the
team members are present.
Robin and Christine kept the Family
Support Service functioning through
all of this offering - our monthly parent
morning teas, renting a room at the
nearby YMCA or a donated room at Ranui
House (both places close to the hospital),
holding bereaved mothers’ meetings at
McDonalds. We continued to visit our
families at the hospital/home/Ronald
McDonald or Ranui House. Melissa kept
the admin processes humming, Beads
of Courage orders and holiday home
bookings happening from her home
office. Clare kept on with her fundraising
in the new Canterbury earthquake
environment, organising events and
fundraisers successfully in spite of it all.
Since June 2012 we have been in a
rent-free building near the airport (a
spacious farm house), kindly offered to
us by Jim Boult CEO of the Christchurch
International Airport (Jim is a CCF Board
Member). So this is our new “normal”
and how it is for now. It is great to be
working together as a team after a year
of not working in the same space. We are
guaranteed this building until at least midChild Cancer Foundation • Sharing
9
Farewell to
Lady June
Blundell
The Child Cancer Foundation lost a great
friend and iconic supporter last October,
when our Patron Lady June Blundell passed
away after a short illness.
Lady Blundell had been Patron of the Child Cancer
Foundation since its inception in 1978. Her heart has always
been with children with cancer and the courage they show.
We were fortunate to spend some wonderful moments
with Lady Blundell in the time leading up to her passing,
including celebrating her 90th birthday in late June, at our
Auckland Family Place. She spoke then about how much
she enjoyed spending time with several of the children and
parents the Foundation supports, as well as talking with
CCF Board and staff members.
CEO Sarah Thomson had great respect for Lady Blundell,
describing her as a gifted and wise leader.
“Her lifelong dedication to the health and wellbeing of
children in New Zealand with cancer and the Foundation’s
child cancer support service was quite remarkable,” she says.
“She was incredibly energetic and only three months
before her death, continued to drive herself to the
Foundation to deliver beautiful clothes which were given
to her by her friends for children with cancer.”
“She loved to call us to meet her for lunch at Pasta Italia,
her favourite lunch spot in Auckland, which is owned by
board member Simon and his wife Sue Lala.”
Child Cancer CEO between 2002 and 2008, Jim Barclay,
also enjoyed Lady Blundell’s strong and very willing
support. “It seemed to me she was involved in every
activity we asked of her. Her cheery smile and bright
personality brought a real lift to every occasion. I could
not have wished for more from this caring, thoughtful and
generous lady. I also gained much benefit from her wise
counsel during our regular meetings and quiet ‘let’s catchup’ lunches,” he says.
Lady Blundell’s earliest involvement with the Foundation
was with a variety of fundraising initiatives. One of her
very first efforts was to raise money for a Lazy Boy chair
for the old children’s hospital (Princess Mary), so the
parents would have some where to sit and sleep whilst
their child had chemotherapy.
She was involved with some very successful fashion
parades - including one in Parnell and two at a cabaret
venue in lower Queens St. The inaugural branch of the
Child Cancer Foundation was Kaitaia and at the annual
Kaitaia Debutante ball, debutantes were “presented” to
Lady Blundell and the proceeds went to the Child Cancer
Foundation.
Lady Blundell spoke at numerous functions, loved attending
events and has spent many hours on the telephone talking
with parents. She was also very generous as a financial
supporter of the Foundation herself.
Family was very important to Lady Blundell and she had
great backing from her children and grandchildren in her
support for the Foundation. One particularly memorable
event, organised by her daughter Sally, was a morning tea
at the end of the Auckland Wharf, hosted by David Nimmo.
10
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
On occasions Lady Blundell worked with another grand
supporter of the Child Cancer Foundation, her good friend
Diana Robinson, and attended several of Diana’s famous
Christmas parties. Diana passed away at New Year in
2009, followed closely by her husband Andrew.
Lady Blundell and husband Sir Denis Blundell
(Governor-General of New Zealand 1972-1977)
had a life-long commitment to helping others.
Lady Blundell was often affectionately known as Lady B
at CCF, but she had many more titles to her name.
June Daphne Blundell, ONZ, QSO, GCStJ (née Halligan) was
named to the Order of New Zealand, on 6 February, 1988.
Lady Blundell was one of the longest-serving members
of the Order of New Zealand which she received in
recognition of her service to New Zealanders.
She was raised in Wellington and went to Samuel Marsden
Collegiate School. June and Denis Blundell married in 1945.
During the war years in Wellington, Sir Denis ran
Birthright New Zealand and Lady Blundell was on the
Free Ambulance, while nursing at Wellington Hospital.
The couple lived in London between 1968 and 1972 where Sir
Denis served as High Commissioner before being appointed
Governor-General of New Zealand from 1972 – 1977.
Sir Denis Blundell died in Townsville, Queensland, Australia,
in 1984. They had a son, Richard, and a daughter, Sally.
Lady B contributed to the formation of CanTeen, was
devoted to St Johns, and was active with the Homai
College for the Blind, Save the Children New Zealand
and the Auckland Asthma Society.
Lady Blundell has left a lasting legacy with the Child
Cancer Foundation. Her character is perhaps best
summarised by the Foundation’s long-serving National
Manager Child Cancer Services, Maryanne Thomson:
“Lady B was a remarkable woman who held a
distinguished grandmother status among our Child Cancer
families and staff. Whenever she came to visit, CCF
children were drawn to her. I remember one particular
day she had barely entered the room when a four-year-old
girl with cancer wrapped her arms around her legs and
wouldn’t let her go. Lady B was delighted. I think we all
wanted to claim her as our own. We miss her very much.”
“I think we all wanted
to claim her as our own.
We miss her very much.”
TOP LEFT: Lady Blundell turns 85.
ABOVE LEFT: Lady Blundell with Kiara Morgan at the
Stars of Courage. ABOVE RIGHT: At her 90th birthday
celebrations at the Auckland Family Place with Eilish Wilkes.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
11
* KIDS’ PAG ES * K I D S ’ PAG ES * K I D S ’ PAG ES * K IDS’ PAGES * K IDS’ PAGES * K IDS’ PAGES * KID S’ PAGES
KIDS’
PAGES!
Your time to shine
“In January our family tried dam dropping
on the Waingongoro River, Taranaki.
We wore wet suits and used boogie boards. I felt frightened and
anxious at the top, and my belly felt like jelly when I went down.
I had four turns down the six metre high dam. It was exciting and
fun.” Rory is pictured with his 13 year old brother Sam. Rory
is aged 10 and in remission for high risk Medulloblastoma.
Amanda Billing
here, Child
Cancer Foundation
Ambassador
Hi everyone, I’ve
enjoyed seeing your
art and photos again
this month. If you
have any suggestions
of what you would
like to see included in your section,
in our next issue let us know.
Email: mhorsburgh@childcancer.org.nz
and she will talk to me about it.
I have been really busy on Shortland St,
and also getting ready for Child Cancer
Appeal Month. I’m really looking forward
to getting involved. I’ll tell you more about
it in our next issue in July.
An Auckland Chinese family made these
beautiful Chinese New Year lanterns to share.
The lanterns are from left to right the work, of Jason Zhang (left),
Eddie Yao (three and undergoing cancer treatment) and Jerry Zhang,
(Jason’s twin). Thank you boys, they are beautiful.
The Chinese New Year was celebrated on February 10th.
Elisiva Mafuahingano’s art work which is displayed in
the Auckland Family Place. Isn’t Elisiva (aged nine), talented?
Owen van der Werff,
(8) from Greenhithe,
Auckland drew this
picture of himself
playing on the
computer at the
Auckland Family
Place. Thanks Owen.
12
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
2012 Auckland
Christmas Party
* KIDS’ PAG ES * K I D S ’ PAG ES * K I D S ’ PAG ES * K IDS’ PAGES * K IDS’ PAGES * K IDS’ PAGES * KID S’ PAGES
s…
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2012 Tauranga
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everyone lo
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
13
Out the
Other Side Caitlin’s Story
RIGHT: Caitlin now - Nov 4, 2012, 14 years 7 months old!
Caitlin was born on April 23rd, 1998 a healthy, happy baby
girl. By July 9th 1998 she’d had every scan imaginable from ultrasounds to CT scans, a tumour removed,
a port-a-cath inserted, been in PICU, and diagnosed
with a Neuroblastoma IV-S. Caitlin was 11 weeks old.
another one put in on the other side of
her chest. Our first normal blood sample
was given to us February 12th, 2001, three
years after being diagnosed. It was our
first glimmer of hope beyond cancer. We
moved gradually from weekly checkups, to
monthly, to three monthly to where we are
now, once a year at the late effects clinic.
Caitlin’s tumour was attached to her
adrenal gland and metastesised into her
liver and kidneys. The tumour along with
her adrenal gland was removed and Caitlin
started a course of chemotherapy to kill
off the metastases. We had one blood
transfusion on the 12th of July, 1998 and
we lived on the ward until September 1998.
Caitlin had ups and downs her first two
years. Two courses of chemotherapy, a
blood transfusion and twelve months on
when we were starting to think it was
all going well, suddenly her blood counts
were rising and we had to do a third round
of chemo. We didn’t dare to get so relaxed
again for some years. Her first Christmas
we had to race her into hospital Christmas
Eve for the night, as she had a temperature
of 42C. Merry Christmas! A port-a-cath
that worked its way out of her skin meant
another unscheduled trip to hospital in
February 1999 to have it removed and
14
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
It took a good four years after her last
chemotherapy for us to start to relax,
well, as much as any parent in this
situation can. I remember the first five
years as never-ending, a grey void that
held only hospital, treatments and
fear. Nothing else seemed real or even
penetrated my thoughts. I worried
constantly that we wouldn’t get through
and couldn’t see past the right here, right
now. I couldn’t imagine the child that
would be or even if the child ‘could be’.
I hadn’t had her long enough before we
were diagnosed to get to know her. To
feel her, to love her without the fear she
would be gone. I look back at those years
with a sense of disbelief that she had
cancer, that it wasn’t just a nightmare.
I look at my firstborn and am thankful
for the care and attention we have been
receiving that has bought us out the
other side, that there is an ‘other side’.
That we could get through it, survive and
carry on. That life could return to the
normal most people get to have.
Caitlin didn’t have a real head of hair until
she was four, has had chemotherapy,
and has undergone numerous needles
and tests for years, but despite her start
she has turned into a bright, intelligent
girl, a typical teenager- moody at times
but mostly good fun. She is developing
emotionally and physically as she should,
all the “possibles” we were informed that
might happen right at the beginning of
Chemotherapy have hopefully passed us
by. She did have a period of time where
she would tire a lot easier than other kids
and needed time out, to sit quietly and
rest. This too passed by the time she was
12 and she is now fully functioning.
We now live in Orewa. Caitlin is 14½.
She enjoys writing novels (somewhat
dark ones), playing the flute with the
concert band at school, art, and being
with her friends. She enjoys Camp
Quality and is also in the Air Training
Corps. Her ambitions are to travel the
world and write novels for a living.
Caitlin is in an extension English class
with English as her top subject and
she is doing above average in all other
subjects. She is not very sporty but likes
pursuits such as kayaking. The scars
from the port on her chest are fading,
her pushed out looking ribs now look
normal. She can be a bit ‘dark’ at times,
more reserved than other kids, but who
is to say that this is not who she would
have been regardless of the cancer.
It has been a journey that has been painful
and emotional for us, her parents. She was
too young to know. Years of not knowing
how it would end and feeling that it would
never end. Hazy days filled with tears are
now a distant memory. No longer do we
focus on the bad, but on the good, the way
forward and each year we take the step
further into the future away from the past.
By Shannon Whelan
(nee Montgomery) - Mum
Meet Our
New Beads
Coordinator
Our new Glass Beads
Artist Coordinator Kari
Lindsay-Beale is a very
well respected glass and
glass jewellery artist,
whose own life challenges
have inspired her to help
children with cancer.
Kari has experienced interlocking chronic
illnesses which caused her to stop fulltime work, a major accident on a young
horse resulting in hospitalisation for six
weeks, and breast cancer. Next February
she will be cancer-free for five years.
Since 2008 when Kari first started
helping the Child Cancer Foundation she
has created 1,700 beads, and has now
taken over the reins as our Coordinator.
“When I was ill I felt so much loss
of control, life disappears behind
medical stuff, your sense of worthiness
disappears,” she says. “I can rationalise
this as an adult and want to do anything
to help children going through cancer.”
Kari says she has had to be very strong
headed throughout her journey and
wants to support children to do the same.
Kari is a highly regarded artist. She
won the 2011 Auckland Beads
Awards “Jewellery for the Catwalk”
category, where entrants designed and
constructed a collection of jewellery
that took inspiration from mixed media ready for any catwalk show.
Kari worked with a myriad of materials
such as bulls eye and effetre glass, metals
and foil, cord, seed beads and crystals.
“In each creation, it is my desire to reflect
the things that breathe life into the soul;
the beauty of nature, the spirit of colour
and the joy of a smile,” she says.
If you would like to see more of Kari’s
work go to: www.karilea.co.nz
Reminder!
Our Little Elms Holiday Home in Hastings is available for families to use throughout
the year. The holiday home currently has capacity to accommodate more families.
If you would like to head to the Hawke’s Bay let us know!
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
15
* HEALTH PROFESSIO N A LS ’ R E P O R T * H E A LTH PROFESSIONA LS ’ REPORT * HEA LT H PROFESSION ALS ’ R EP OR T
Health Professionals Report
The Grant in Aid programme is an important
component of the Challenge Research Fund.
“A grant in aid is an award for a particular
purpose designed to further the objects of the
Foundation beyond the categories of a Research
Grant. The Foundation is prepared to consider
a wide variety of means by which childhood
cancer may be alleviated. Such means must be
within the objects for which the Foundation is
established.”
The programme has helped paediatric oncology trainees travel
overseas to complete their post graduate training to achieve
specialist qualifications.
One of the provisions of the funding is that the recipient
returns to work in New Zealand as it is recognised that the
best way to build and increase work force capacity is to
promote and assist New Zealand trainees.
Dr Amanda Lyver (Christchurch), and Dr Stephen Laughton
(Auckland), were the first recipients of this programme. Then
followed Dr Andrew Wood and Dr Tim Prestidge. Dr Wood
continues in his research position in the laboratory of Dr Maris
at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the United
States, where he is researching Neuroblastoma. Drs Lyver,
Laughton and Prestidge have returned home as Consultant
Paediatric Haematologists/Oncologists. 2011 recipients
Dr Karen Tsui and Dr Tristan Pettit took up their overseas
positions in 2012.
Tristan Pettit reports on 23/10/12:
“In January of this year my family and I moved from our
hometown of Christchurch to commence a two year Paediatric
Haematology and Oncology Fellowship at Sydney Children’s
Hospital (SCH).
The two six-month rotations that I have undertaken this year
treat general haematology/oncology patients, and specifically
in the first half of the year I worked with the Brain Tumour
team. In this second six month period I am working with the
Bone Marrow Transplant team.
The department here at SCH has a large number of consultants,
all of whom provide opportunities for me and I arrive home every
evening feeling that my knowledge has certainly expanded!
I hope to develop my specific area of interest – Adolescent and
Young Adult (AYA) oncology next year by working with the AYA
oncology team at SCH. I am undertaking some postgraduate
study next year with regards to AYA oncology also.
Research is an important part of my training in Sydney, I am
currently involved in a fertility study for AYA patients and am
also starting a research project analysing lifestyle risk factors
in the long term oncology survivor population.
16
Next year I will complete two further six month rotations
within the department here at SCH, with General
Haematology/Oncology being the focus of the first six months
and a research/AYA oncology focus in the second six months.
At the completion of the fellowship I will have finished my
Paediatric Haematology/Oncology training and I intend to
return to New Zealand to continue working in the field.”
Karen Tsui reports 11/01/13:
“I have worked at Starship Children’s Hospital since I was
a junior doctor, and trained as an Oncology Fellow at the
Starship Blood and Cancer Centre to become a Paediatric
Oncologist. With the help of funding from the Child Cancer
Foundation, I moved to Memphis, Tennessee, July, 2012 to
complete my oncology training as a Neuro-Oncology Fellow
at the world-renowned St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
My aim is to use this opportunity to learn and bring back this
experience to benefit New Zealand children with cancer.
St Jude was built in 1962, the dream of American entertainer
Danny Thomas who said “no child should die in the dawn of
life.” And what has followed is a truly remarkable story. St
Jude is unique because it is funded solely through donations
– US$600 million p.a. – and has the record of never turning
a child away because of financial circumstances. Tens of
thousands of children with cancer and rare conditions from
both the United States and internationally have been treated.
St Jude has led some ground breaking research in cancer
therapy, and is called upon around the world to provide
guidance and advice on treatment for hard-to-treat cancers.
My focus is on brain tumours. Over the past six months I was
able to immerse in the expertise of the brain tumour team.
I have seen babies and children survive through some of
the toughest brain tumours, for example, atypical teratoid
rhabdoid tumours, and pineoblastoma.
On the other hand, treatment is reduced to lessen the burden
of intensive therapy in tumours that have a high cure rate;
for example, certain types of medulloblastoma. Part of this is
made possible by understanding the genetic makeup of the
tumour itself and the human genome, researching treatments
at the laboratory bench, and applying knowledge to clinics.
Every day new drugs and phase 1 protocols are being
developed to tackle tumours that are conventionally difficult
to cure. But of course nothing is possible without research
participation by family and the very brave children.
People outside America think about Elvis Presley when they
hear Memphis, however St. Jude also has a very, very special
place in the hearts of Memphians. I am truly grateful of the
experience and knowledge I am gaining here, which will be
part of making a contribution to the lives of New Zealand
children with cancer on my return.
continued over page...
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
* HEALTH PROFESSIO N A LS ’ R E P O R T * H E A LTH PROFESSIONA LS ’ REPORT * HEA LT H PROFESSION ALS ’ R EP OR T
2012 Recipient
Dr Andrew Dodgshun, a graduate of the University of
Otago Medical School has, since December 2011, been the
Paediatric Oncology Fellow at Christchurch Hospital. He has
been awarded Child Cancer Foundation Grant in Aid funding
for further training as a Paediatric Oncology Fellow at the
Children’s Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.
In Melbourne his training will focus on the management of
leukaemias, solid tumours and disorders requiring bone
marrow transplantation. At the completion of his two year
fellowship in Melbourne, Andrew will have gained his FRACP
(Fellow Royal Australasian College Physicians), and intends
to return to Christchurch to take up a Consultant Position in
Paediatric Oncology.
Andrew is described as an extremely gifted doctor. He
received in 2011 the Gold medal in Paediatrics from the Royal
Australasian College of Physicians for attaining the highest
overall performance, (written and clinical components) in the
Fellowship exams in paediatrics.
Through support of trainees the Child Cancer Foundation
is playing a significant role in supporting the development
of skills and expertise, ultimately enhancing the overall
knowledge base within Paediatric Oncology in New Zealand.
Andrew strives to use his knowledge to enhance the care of
the young patients the Christchurch service treats and has been
a valued member of the clinical team.
Ribbons
of Hope
The Starship Oncology Department
was given a very special gift late last
year from a talented cancer survivor.
Melissa Brooks, who is now 32, was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphatic Leukaemia when she was three.
She has been in remission since six-years-old.
Melissa is now a quilt maker and has completed a unique
“Ribbons of Hope” quilt recording her journey, which she has
gifted to Starship.
“The making of the quilt was a journey lasting (virtually) my
whole life, though only scratching the surface of what cancer
means to me and mine,” says Melissa.
“I hope it symbolises some of the things we forget about when
it comes to cancer. For me, it’s the faces of the kids who sat
next to me in our hospital beds who didn’t make it, the days I
didn’t understand why I needed a humongous jab in my butt
because I had next to no immunity, the helplessness my family
must have felt when they had to place their faith in doctors
they had only just met.”
The ribbons on the quilt are made from CanTeen bandannas.
Melissa had been collecting these bandannas for quite a few
years and was undecided what to do with them until recently.
“The black ribbons at the end of each row acknowledge
that not all of us made it through, the red sashing for me
symbolises blood, in the case of the ALL, it is the now healthy
blood I have free of cancer.
“I am so happy my “Ribbons of Hope” quilt ended up living in
the Oncology Department; it is definitely where it belongs,”
she says.
To learn more about Melissa and her work visit:
www.millybeequilting.co.nz
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
17
*
REGIO NA L
NEWS
*
R E G ION A L
NEWS
*
REGIO NA L
NEWS
*
REGIO NA L
NEWS
*
REGION AL
Regional News
TAURANGA
2012 was a fun-filled year for the Tauranga Branch, with quite a
few events happening. We had a combination of “treats” for our
Mums and Dads along with activities for our children and families.
The first “treat” was for our Mums, who enjoyed a morning of
pampering getting their hair, nails and toes “treated” followed by
a scrumptious “high tea/lunch”. Next treat was for the Dads who
had an overnight stay at a bach in Hahei with lots of successful fishing!
A lovely day was had with our bereaved families where we all
tried our hand at “painting a plate/mug/pot” before enjoying
lunch at the local Tauranga Historical Village. We had a great
turn out at our Laser Tag outing with 25 “little” kids and half a
dozen “big” kids (Mums and Dads) living their Rambo dream.
Creativity was in abundance at our craft / card making day.
Our Christmas party was a great success and features on the
Kids’ Pages. See you all again this year!
EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
The Mums’ Bums on Bikes weekend was great. We had 15 ladies
riding from Taupo, Te Puke, Whakatane and Rotorua. Everyone
had a great time and completed over 150km. We reached where
we were staying at Katikati and had unloaded all our gear
before the horrible weather hit. On Monday we had sun and a
tail wind. In 2014 we will be cycling from Taupo to Tauranga
and it is all downhill. Anyone can participate as long as they are
female and get sponsorship for their local Branch.
the side of the road, and girls waving out for the bus to stop and
help. The girls came on to the bus and asked if we wanted to go
to their party at the Tui Breweries in Mangatainoka – yes guys it
was the Tui Girls!!
After a long night I crawled into bed at 3am only to have to
get up again at 7am to meet with the Apparelmaster team to
collect an amazing donation of $17,640 – thanks!!
The team at Apparelmaster are a fantastic bunch of people.
They are a company with really strong family values which is
a credit to what Bill Ritchie has built since 1978. His son Bevan
came on board in 1996 and the company has remained 100%
owned by New Zealanders. I felt very humble and privileged to
be allowed to celebrate with the Apparelmaster family.
Over the last year I have met up with Bevan and Susan at a number
of Child Cancer fundraising events. I can’t express my thanks and
gratitude to them for what they do in the Wellington region and
their staff that contribute in other parts of New Zealand.
Apparelmaster, thank you for
your continual support of the
Child Cancer Foundation!!
Leanne Fecser
Child Cancer Central Regional Board Representative
Bereaved parent of Ricky
NORTH OTAGO
Party Time at Christmas at the Races
On Saturday 24 November we were lucky to be involved, with
CanTeen in the “Christmas at the Races inaugural Reindeer
race4Charity”. This special race involved us selling the horses
whose names included Cupid, Rudolph and Vixen, to the
businesses in the corporate tents.
Our local girl on the scene was Annaka Aitcheson who did a
fantastic job of showing everyone her Beads of Courage and
chatting with the punters. We had a fabulous day and were
very grateful to work with the guys from CanTeen. Together
we made $3600 for the day which was then split between the
two charities. A special thank you to Bev Williamson and Scott
Eliffee for inviting us to take part in the wonderful event.
WELLINGTON
Apparelmaster - Child Cancer Supporter
Last year I was invited to attend the Apparelmaster Annual
Conference dinner to represent the Child Cancer Foundation.
The dinner was fancy dress and you had to go dressed in
something starting with “A” or “M”. This was totally out of
my comfort zone as I don’t do fancy dress! I was apprehensive
about spending an evening with people that I had never met
(and in fancy dress) so I managed to convince a friend to come
along for moral support.
What an evening! As we boarded the bus for dinner we were
advised we were off to a secret location. We had driven about
10 minutes down the road and there was a car broken down at
18
Sharing • Child Cancer Foundation
ABOVE: Breanna and Alyssa Greaney, Annaka Aitcheson
and Andrew Crocker from CanTeen
N EWS
Professionals
walking the talk
with Child Cancer Foundation since 1995
Our team of Professionals from around New Zealand
are proud sponsors of the Child Cancer Foundation,
raising over $3.5 million over the past 18 years – and
we’re still going strong!
Every time we sell a home, we contribute. Every year
we’re out there collecting on the streets and every year
we host fundraising events to help children and families
with their journey.
Every step of the way, we are ‘walking
the talk’.
Child Cancer Foundation • Sharing
19
Huge thanks to all our fantastic sponsors, we couldn’t do it without you!
GOLD STAR
SPONSORS:
MAJOR FUNDING
PARTNER:
FOUNDATION
PARTNER:
SPONSOR
AND SUPPORT
PARTNERS:
Alexander Harold Watson Charitable Trust, BA Lewis Charitable Trust, Constellation Communities Trust, Community
Trust of Mid & South Canterbury, Charles Rupert Stead Charitable Trust, Eastern and Central Community Trust,
Endeavour Community Foundation, Eric Hattaway Bridgman Trust, Ernest Hyam Davis Trust, Four Winds Foundation,
Guardian Trust, Infinity Foundation, Jack and Marjorie Ferrier Charitable Trust, Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, Kathleen
Dorothy Kirkby Charitable Trust, Lion Foundation, Mt Wellington Foundation, NR Thomson, Pelorus Trust, Pub Charity,
New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, North and South Trust Limited, NZ Community Trust, Robinson Trust – Diana and
Andrew Robinson, Trust House Foundation, Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate, Southern Trust, The Elaine
Gurr Endowment Trust, The Mainland Foundation, Trillian Trust, The Trusts Community Foundation, Thomas George
Macarthy Trust, VMD Collier Charitable Trust, Youthtown Trust.
Every child and their family walking the child cancer journey will never feel alone.
National Office
PHONE 0800 4 CHILD
76 Grafton Road
Grafton, Auckland 1010
PHONE (09) 366-1270
(0800 4 24453)
EMAIL info@childcancer.org.nz
WEB www.childcancer.org.nz
FACEBOOK ChildCancerFoundationNZ
TWITTER ChildCancerNZ
ISSN 0114-7765
FUNDING
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