The National Children’s Cancer Society and One Day Soon…
Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
Article 23 “Children who have any kind of disability should have special care and support, so that they can lead full and independent lives.”
~From UNICEF Children’s Rights and Responsibilities Leaflet
http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/files/rights_leaflet.pdf
Ask any childhood cancer survivor about survival, and they will undoubtedly tell you about people and organizations that helped them through their darkest of times. Thankfully, there are organizations that help survivors live “full and independent lives.” The National Children’s Cancer Society is one of these vitally important organizations. I am personally grateful to NCCS for assisting me with my education at Pepperdine University with a Beyond the Cure Scholarship. After suffering the financial devastation that comes along with childhood cancer, families are in even greater need of assistance to send their children to college. Offering educational scholarships is one of the ways that NCCS gives “special care and support” to children who are fighting—or have fought—childhood cancer.
The National Children’s Cancer Society’s mission:
“The mission of The National Children’s Cancer Society is to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families worldwide.
We serve as a financial, emotional and educational resource for those in need at every stage of illness and recovery. In the United States, we ease the financial burdens that accompany major illness, give crucial support and address the challenges of survivorship. Abroad, we provide lifesaving pharmaceutical drugs and medical supplies to facilities that treat children with cancer.”
http://www.thenccs.org/AboutNCCS
The history of NCCS is fascinating to me. This organization was born in the late 80’s because BMT’s, bone marrow transplants, were becoming viable forms of treatment for some types of childhood cancers, but insurance companies would not cover the cost.
“Since its inception, the NCCS has provided more than $57 million in direct financial assistance to more than 34,000 children. The organization works closely with over 300 hospitals and pediatric oncology units throughout US and reaches thousands more through its ongoing education programs and materials.”
NCCS’s Pediatric Oncology Program, or POP, provides emotional and financial assistance to families in the midst of the emotional and financial devastation that is childhood cancer. They recognize that the burdens the families bear are extraordinary. NCCS even assigns caseworkers who will guide families through the treacherous, unknown “waters” they have been thrust into. The peace of mind of having someone available with information/advice makes this an enormously valuable service.
http://www.thenccs.org/help_during
Educational Services are one other type of service that NCCS provides, through web conferences for healthcare professionals and childhood cancer survivors and through regional survivorship conferences.
http://www.thenccs.org/webconference
“The National Children’s Cancer Society’s Beyond the Cure Survivorship Program provides funding to hospitals across the U.S. to host survivorship conferences in their local community.”
Schedule of Web Conferences:
http://www.thenccs.org/regional_conferences
In addition, The National Children’s Cancer Society provides educational services for pediatric oncology nurses. Ped/Onc Nurses can earn up to eight hours of continuing education credit, with no charge. They will award one credit hour for each program.
https://www.thenccs.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=715
One final way NCCS serves to educate about childhood cancer is through publications and video available through their website.
http://www.thenccs.org/pubs-vids
The National Children’s Cancer Society is able to provide “special care and support” to children with cancer and to survivors through:
Private Donations:
https://www.thenccs.org/donateGeneral
Fundraising Teams:
http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/team?ftid=6717
Corporate Partners:
http://www.thenccs.org/corporatePartners
Events:
I must comment on this one–my dad, Stooge-fan-extraordinaire, will be first in line for this one!!!
Thrift Stores:
Charity Vending:
This is a way for business owners to help children with cancer and their families.
http://www.thenccs.org/charityvend
Treasure Chest Vending:
“The NCCS has partnered with Accessit Corp. of Canada on its new Treasure Chest machines. As their exclusive US charity partner, this program generates support for our Pediatric Oncology Program.”
http://www.thenccs.org/treasureChest
In addition to all of the services and resources I have mentioned, The National Children’s Cancer Society acts swiftly to assist families in times of natural disasters, like Sandy. Disrupted communication services caused by super-storm Sandy left children in treatment in even more danger, and NCCS acted to bridge those temporary gaps.
I love that NCCS was born out of a huge need that they filled, helping save children’s lives and families’ financial stability. I love that NCCS has a huge variety of services available to help families in the middle of the Crisis Of Their Lives. I love that NCCS recognizes the difficulties of survivor-ship and how they provide where there is great need.
Finally, I am grateful to NCCS for my Beyond the Cure Scholarship. I will always be grateful and show my gratitude by giving everything I have to my studies. May my cancer story come full circle to be able to help children through their cancer journey, to help gather funds for pediatric research, and to one day be able to conduct my own childhood cancer research—that will lead to cures for childhood cancer.
The National Children’s Cancer Society gives me hope; they give me hope that one day there will be no need for a National Children’s Cancer Society. Without a doubt, I know they feel the same.
One day…
One day soon…
Austin Munoz –Moorpark Football Senior Night
http://www.nationalchildrenscancersociety.com/
http://www.melindamarchiano.com
Melinda Marchiano 