To promote services of excellence and consistency to children with cancer and their families.

WHO WE ARE

A group of concerned parents and medical staff formed a small Auckland-based committee in 1978 to cater for the special needs of children with cancer and their families.

The Child Cancer Foundation Inc is now a national organisation with 4 divisions and 23 branches throughout New Zealand providing support for children and young people with cancer and their families, and the health professionals involved in their care.

The Foundation's guiding principles are:

• No child suffering from cancer, or their family should ever feel alone
• A family has the right to be together during treatment
• The most effective approach to treating childhood cancer involves families and health professionals working together

The principles are achieved through:

• Individual and group support with opportunities to share concerns and experience and practical support
• Some financial assistance
• Provision of up to date information
• Availability of accommodation facilities close to all major treatment centres
• Promotion of educational resources, workshops and seminars
• Lobbying for equitable access to high quality treatment and follow-up assistance

WHY WE EXIST

Each year approximately 150 young New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer. In fact, cancer is still the most common cause of death in children apart from accidents.

While dealing with the enormous emotional strain of having a child with cancer, families are often faced with prolonged periods of treatment at a specialist hospital away from their home. This takes a huge toll on families who are forced to spend time apart as they support their sick child.

Add to this juggling act parents' work commitments, the needs of siblings, and the need for routine in disrupted lives. Through all of this, families also face significant extra financial demands as they attempt to sustain a fragmented family over long distances.

The good news is that around 80% of children are successfully treated at one of three specialist centres in New Zealand, and that the Foundation is here to help children and their families to deal with cancer.

Child Cancer Foundation Family Support Coordinators in each division provide support to children, young people and their families during the course of their treatment at a specialist hospital.

Family Support Workers in local branches assist them on their return home.

OUR STRUCTURE

The Child Cancer Foundation is governed by a National Board , and operates from a National Office with four divisions based in Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch and Dunedin . These divisions support 23 branches throughout New Zealand.

CanTeen is a special interest division of the Child Cancer Foundation supporting young people living with cancer

The Foundation was established in order to:

• Foster the care and support of children with cancer, their families, and the health professionals involved in the treatment of children with cancer.
• To encourage activities that lead to the alleviation, prevention and cure of cancer in young people.
• Ensure that children with cancer and their families have access to the highest standard of treatment regardless of their means or place of residence.
• Provide the means of accommodation for families whose children are undergoing treatment for cancer.
• Promote the education of and the liaison between health professionals in all aspects of cancer in children.
• Promote the education of members of families of children with cancer in all aspects of the disease.
• Provide for the support of families of children with cancer, and the support of bereaved families of children with cancer.
• Promote understanding of the nature of childhood cancer in the general public and to be an advocate for children with cancer and their families.
• Promote, encourage, arrange and assist in any manner research into the causes, treatment and prevention of childhood cancers and all other forms of the conditions commonly known as cancer.
• Make necessary regulations and by-laws for the government, control and management of the Foundation generally.
• Recognise and uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to make the resources of the Foundation available to people of all cultures.