About Us A diagnosis of cancer in a child is shocking and quite devastating. Childcan helps children and their families cope with the diagnosis of cancer by providing financial, social, and emotional support, ensuring the child remains the sole focus as they face their cancer journey. Childcan presently supports Paediatric Oncology families diagnosed at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, and include those living in Middlesex, Elgin, Haldimand-Norfolk, Huron, Perth, Huron, Lambton, Essex, Kent, Huron, Grey, and Bruce counties. Childcan works with the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Paediatric Oncology teams, satellite clinics, Windsor Regional Hospital, POGO, and various community agencies and childhood cancer organizations to enhance quality of life for those children affected with childhood cancer and their families.

Vision Families faced with childhood cancer will receive support services to ease their pain. Mission Statement Childcan raises funds to provide responsive and compassionate support services to families facing the journey through childhood cancer – from diagnosis, treatment, recovery, or bereavement. Values Compassion, Respectful, Responsive, Family Centred, Flexible, Trustworthy

Childcan Provides Support Services Such As...

HELLO WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Childcan first meets a family soon after diagnosis. Childcan provides parents with information about its programs and reassuring words for families they are not alone in this cancer journey and a parking pass to use for the remainder of time on treatment.

Each child receives a quilt lovingly made by quilters throughout the region, to make the beginning of their cancer journey a little more bearable and something warm to bring along to hospital visits. On initial diagnosis, most families will be in hospital for 3-4 weeks at minimum or longer depending on their treatment protocol. Childcan also provides gold childhood cancer pins and other items to each newly diagnosed family.

Childcan also provides each newly diagnosed family with gift cards for incidental purchases while in hospital, long distance phone cards, gas cards and video rental card for games and books to keep kids minds off the long days of treatment.

PARKING PROGRAM - "Relief at the end of a long day"

Provide a parking pass for all families diagnosed in London while their child is on active treatment sometimes lasting 3-4 years. Parking tokens for families attending offsite clinics at Windsor Regional Hospital and parking reimbursement for Grand River Hospital, Kitchener.

Families traveling from the region to Toronto Sick Kids for tests and surgeries including bone marrow harvest and transplants, have their parking covered while at Sick Kids, Toronto. Families also receive a care package that includes Tim Horton's gift certificates, gift cards for incidental purchases, phone cards, and other pertinent information during their time in Toronto.

INDIVIDUAL FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - "Help through the storm"

Assist with financial supports upon request, as individual as the families served and may include assistance with, rent and mortgage payments, utility bills, food, car repairs, travel, community based family counselling...and so much more. An application process is required and facilitated through, Social Work, Interlink Community Care Nurse and Executive Director.

SUPPORT GROUPS - "You are not alone"

Hold weekly "Coffee Time" on 7th Floor in-patients Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre. This gives "in-patient" parents the opportunity to put their feet up, take a break and connect over coffee and goodies.

Host informal monthly parent support groups in London, Sarnia, and Windsor to provide parents a time to gather and support one and another.

FAMILY FUN DAYS - "Celebrate the joys of today...making memories for tomorrow"

Organizing and facilitating annual family day trip to Canada's Wonderland for the entire family to help celebrate the joys of today and making memories.

Annual Christmas Parties are held in London and Windsor for families including presents for all the children in the family. Santa makes a special appearance each year and food, fun ensure a day for kids and their families to forget about CANCER!

SUPER STAR AWARD - "End of active treatment...something to be celebrated"

The Optimist Clubs of London, Zone's 5 & 9 and the Paediatric Oncology team at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre worked with Childcan to design an award program for children when they are through active treatment. This award is highly anticipated by children and parents as it marks a very important time in their childhood cancer journey.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY MEALS - "No one should have to be in hospital for holidays"

Provide Easter Dinner, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Eve dinners for families admitted to hospital during the holidays.

POST SECONDARY BURSARIES - "Beyond Childhood Cancer"

Each year Childcan provides 4-$1,000 bursaries for post secondary education for 4 childhood cancer survivors who are attending post secondary education.

BENEVOLENT FUND

Childcan provides financial resources to help a family with expenses when a child has earned their angel wings much too soon. Childcan also sends a sympathy basket to families.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

From time to time Childcan may provide funding for various innovative Paediatric Oncology research projects or studies. The last study Childcan supported was in 2005.

We Also Support… The Childlife program at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, and Windsor Regional Hospital Met Campus by supplying current movies and video games for the children to use in hospital. 7th Floor In Patients, Children's Hospital, London Paediatric Oncology Unit by providing assistance with purchasing small medical equipment, family items, and resource materials. In the past Childcan has purchased blanket warmers, fridges and freezer for families to safely store their foods for long hospital stays, clocks for rooms, cot's for parent's to bunk in with child, furnished the quite lounge on 7th Floor In-patients (London) and so much more. A resource lounge for families at Windsor Regional Hospital, Met Campus (A satellite clinic to the London Paediatric Oncology care and services at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre) The Paediatric Medical Day Unit "Treasurer Chest" programs, rewards patients for their bravery and acknowledges their courage at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre and Windsor Regional Hospital, Met Campus. Childcan provides assistance for purchasing materials for the Art Therapy Program, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre that helps children deal with their peers and their fears through artwork and crafts. Camp Trillium, a childhood cancer recreational program available to patients and their families provided at both camp and in the hospital. INFORMATION AND RESORUCES Families whose children are diagnosed and living with cancer are always gathering information to understand their disease and feel empowered with knowledge to help guide their children through their journey. Childcan's website is updated regularly and a bi-annual newsletter (accessible on line) are both valuable and reliable resources. Childcan supplies updated books and articles for the Paediatric Oncology families through Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, and satellite clinics for their Paediatric resource lounges and libraries. Additionally, Childcan helps steer families in the right direction when looking for support agencies, existing government programs, and resources.