A gift for children with cancer
Danone Clover has come to the end of yet another successful ‘Caring for Our Children' campaign. This annual campaign has benefited children being treated for cancer.
Stéphane Jacqmin, marketing director, says the company donated six cents for each of its yoghurts, drinking yoghurts, yoghurt juice blends and maas products sold during June and July. “Thanks to heart-warming support from consumers around the country,” Jacqmin says, “our R1.6 million gift will provide a new Pretoria sanctuary for children with cancer.”
The Danone Clover CHOC house will be a haven where children with cancer can stay, with a loved one, while under going treatment.
“Our annual campaign has brought us face to face with perhaps the bravest people of all: children. We've seen it's the children who take cancer in their stride. The little ones show courage beyond their years, strength beyond understanding and determination beyond measure. It is so utterly moving, and all of us are so privileged to be able to help,” comments Jacqmin.
In South Africa it is estimated that every year, 1 in 600 children develop cancer before the age of 15. Of these only 40% are ever diagnosed, and most of these are diagnosed in the late stages. This means that 70% of children who develop cancer die needlessly each year, either misdiagnosed, undiagnosed or diagnosed too late.
This is an additional reason why the company's ‘Caring for Our Children' campaign is so important; it has helped to raise awareness of the early warning signs of childhood cancer over the last four years. The earlier the disease is detected, the more successful treatment can be, in some cancers as high as 85%.
Jacqmin adds that a good deal of thanks is also due to many other people who made this year's campaign such a success.
‘There are so very many of our employees, people in the retail trade, suppliers and others who have played a vital role this year,' says Jacqmin.
Jacqmin explains that the Houses make a huge difference in the lives of young cancer victims and their families. One of the challenges is that cancer treatment weakens the body's immune system, leaving the child open to infections. What is needed is a stable and caring environment where there is less risk to health, and this is even more important for children from rural areas.
As one parent said, ‘Being able to stay in one of these places made such a difference. The alternative was a long journey, between home and the treatment centre. But apart from saving the huge cost of accommodation, food and travel, just as important was the stress and strain and worry we were saved.'
The Danone Clover CHOC Houses in Bloemfontein, Soweto, and Cape Town, were created from the funds raised in the previous campaigns and are situated close to the specialist children's cancer treatment units in those cities' hospitals. This year's House will serve the treatment centres at Kalafong, GaRankuwa and Pretoria Academic Hospitals.
