CHOC Eastern Cape

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA is the only organisation in South Africa that provides comprehensive countrywide support for children with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders and their families. CHOC was established in 1979 as a support group to parents of children with cancer, by parents of children with cancer. Having experienced the immense emotional and financial toll that cancer takes they recognised there is more than one victim in the family of the child with cancer. Their aim was to ease the burden on parents facing the same journey by providing access to relevant, accurate information, as well as emotional and practical support.

Current Projects:

Psycho-social support: a social worker is based at the ward, to guide and support the patient and their families, to help develop the necessary coping mechanisms;

Accommodation: we offer accommodation, free of charge, to families from out of town. All their needs are met while accommodated at CHOC, from transport to meals and toiletries. The families can focus on the child’s treatment, without having to stress about food and accommodation.

Now in its 2nd year, the CHOC Flip Flop Day is an annual event celebrated on 12 February. It is a day of fun and colour because although childhood cancer is in no way light-hearted, South Africans certainly are, and when it comes to our children we need to rally behind them, as CHOC SOLE-diers to truly show that we are a force to be reckoned with. We would love you to support us.

For more information or to purchase your sticker visit Choc.org.za or pop into your local PNA or Tekkie Town store.

How Covid has affected us:

Our services continue throughout the various lockdown levels and there has been a much greater need for certain services as a result of covid’s impact on families in need. We also rely on events to raise funds, due to covid we are not able to hold events and so cannot raise the funds we used to. Monthly we would attend open and wellness days to create awareness of the early warning signs of childhood cancer, this has not been possible. We would like to get out into the communities again, to create awareness and raise funds. And while we are restricted in our movements, we can still count on individuals and companies to make cash donations to CHOC so that we can continue to offer our services to the beneficiaries. All cash donations to CHOC are tax-deductible.

Pictured below - CHOC kids.