Submitted by Lenore Cartlidge
Renee and Lorraine of Childcan met with the CKQG via Zoom during the October meeting. They provided detailed information about Childcan. The Comfort Quilt committee presented a Parade of Childcan quilts, soon to be shared with Childcan. Both Renee and Lorraine are mothers of a survivor of childhood cancer.
With many services and programs, Childcan supports children and their families through childhood cancer, letting them know that they are not alone. At the beginning of their journey, each child receives a “care package” with a quilt; the parents receive parking passes to London Health Services, information re services available, cafeteria vouchers, siblings get a hand crafted pillowcases, etc. They support approximately 200 families at any time, from a large catchment area.
If needed, families also receive gift cards for gas, groceries, parking passes for other hospitals, assistance for hotels if Ronald McDonald House are not available. As well, $1500 to cover other expenses.
Additional services include:
Support meetings for families
Family fun days
Post Secondary Scholarships for survivors
Tutoring by volunteers in many communities
Bereavement program includes assistance for funerals, monthly support meetings, parent and sibling counselling.
Accredited cancer information on website – maintained by a medical librarian
Treats for Sibling Superstars
Fundraisers include: Polar bear dips, walkathons, company donations, 50/50 draw, oncology groups and fundraisers by individual families.
Renee and Lorraine both thanked us for the many beautiful quilts presented over the past years.
Through discussion after the presentation, we discovered that the husband of one Guild member is a 45 year old survivor of childhood cancer!