Childhood Cancer is the largest disease killer of children in Ireland. Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland are leading Ireland’s fight against childhood cancer and they need your help.

Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland

Childhood Cancer Foundation is a national charity set up in 2013 by parents of children with cancer. Their goal is to raise awareness of childhood cancer, fund support services and advocate for children with cancer and their families. They receive no state funding and rely on the generosity of donations.

Why Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland Need Your Help

Childhood Cancer is the largest disease killer of children in Ireland. On average 218 children are diagnosed annually and sadly one in five of those children will not survive.

While medical treatments have improved greatly, many childhood cancer survivors suffer serious life long side effects resulting from them.

The disease has a devastating effect on the whole family who suffer emotionally, psychologically and financially throughout difficult treatment protocols.

As parents having “walked the cancer road with our children” we are well placed to understand all the diverse issues that a cancer diagnosis brings.

Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland’s Support Services

Carol the Play Specialist

Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland fully fund Beads of Courage®, an internationally recognised arts in medicine supportive care programme, on St John’s Oncology Ward in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin. This programme is designed to help children understand and cope better with their cancer diagnosis.

Children receive different colourful beads for each treatment milestone e.g. chemotherapy or surgery. The beads are meaningful symbols and of huge psycho social benefit to the children as they show how they overcame the many challenges they faced during their cancer treatment.

They fund a full time Play Specialist on St John’s Ward who also administers the Beads of Courage programme. The Play Specialist, works with children to help ease the burden of hospitalisation and invasive treatments, providing distraction and support at a time when it is needed most.

Their Shared Care Hospital project aims to improve facilities for oncology children hospitalised in isolation rooms in Ireland’s 16 shared care- regional hospitals.

The children require stimulation within the confines of a small room which they can’t leave to even visit the playroom or even the toilet.

Equipment funded to date includes wall mounted cardiac monitors to eliminate the risk of contamination, TVs, DVD players, game consoles, lie flat chair beds for parents and wall art to brighten up the isolation rooms.

International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day

International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day (ICCAD) takes place on Saturday, 15th February. We need as many people as possible to get on board this year and help us to raise awareness of childhood cancer and much needed funds for our valuable support services in 2020.

If you are able to help with a shopping centre collection or bag pack, sell some of our gold ribbon pins or organise your own fundraiser we’d love to hear from you.

No activity is too small and we are looking for volunteers all across the country to ensure that ICCAD 2020 is a success!

Email: [email protected] for more information.

As a non-government funded organisation we rely on the generous support of the public to help fund our support services for children with cancer and their families.

You can donate €4 by texting ‘Gold’ to 50300

100% of your donation goes to Childhood Cancer Foundation across most network operators. Some operators apply VAT which means that a minimum of €3.25 will go to Childhood Cancer Foundation. Service Provider: LIKE CHARITY. Helpline 076 6805278