GQEBERHA – Young cancer patients from out of town and their caregivers are fortunate to have the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation accommodation close to treatment centres across South Africa.
Parents and caregivers can stay in these facilities for as long as their children undergo cancer treatment. In Gqeberha, the CHOC accommodation is situated in Parsons Hill close to Provincial Hospital and in East London, the house is located in Beacon Bay close to Frere Hospital.
Parent or caregiver and the young patient stay at these facilities at no cost and receive nutritious meals and transport to and from the hospital where required.
The CHOC accommodation facilities in East London and Gqeberha are affected by power outages like most South African households, and to alleviate this inconvenience, the organisations will be installing solar energy panels.
The proceeds from the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer this year will be donated to these two facilities to install solar panels.
Debbie Kleinenberg, CHOC Eastern Cape Regional Manager said that solar energy will help the two homes to keep the lights on. “We will be able to provide family member or a patient who comes back from treatment with a warm meal or bath and keep the lights on if a child is not feeling well during the night,” said Kleinenberg.
Out of town patients and their parents or caregivers travel from across the Eastern Cape to receive cancer treatment.
“Families enjoy life outside of the ward and the sound of moms chatting and a child playing is very rewarding. On average, we accommodate close to 4 000 beds per night services per annum,” Kleinenberg added.
The Big Walk for Cancer registration is still open on the Algoa FM website. The physical event starts at 08h00 on the morning of 5 November at the following venues:
Gqeberha - Pollock Beach, Beach Road, Summerstrand
George – Nedbank Running Club, Club House, Meent Street, Heather Park
East London – Old Selbornian Running Club, Pearce Street, Berea
In addition to the physical Big Walk for Cancer, participants outside of these three cities can support the Big Walk for Cancer by participating virtually, walking anywhere and in their own time. Virtual participants can register in the same way as physical participants on the Algoa FM website.
Showing support is as easy as purchasing some fun pink merchandise online at www.algoafm.co.za and selecting your preference to either self-collect or receive your purchase via courier.
