Have a heart for children with cancer

Children are our future, they are our country’s VIPs. This is why there is a crying urgency to create awareness of childhood cancer and the fact that, if detected early, most forms can be cured.

In South Africa one child in 600 gets cancer before the age of 16 – which is close to 2700 per annum. The sad reality is that less than half of these children are ever diagnosed. Although 70-85 percent of cases can be cured, the shocking fact is that fewer than half are diagnosed early enough to be treated. Half are never diagnosed at all. This is primarily through ignorance – which is why it is so important to use International Childhood Cancer Day to enlighten the people of this country.

On 15 February Choc (Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa) will be marking the day with a variety of events all over the country and appeals to schools, companies and even private people to join in the efforts to make this day hugely informative and productive. Companies could, for instance, make it a Valentine’s Day tie-in ‘civvies day’ and hold a special collection for Choc.

Schools are invited to ask the Choc mascots, Thandi and her son, Keemo, to visit and tell the children all the positive things about childhood cancer – the things that help Choc ‘keep more than hope alive!’

Details: Choc head office 011 486 1212.