CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation is a national organisation dedicated to providing assistance to children that are battling cancer or life-threatening blood disorders and their families. 

It is the only organisation of its kind in South Africa. 

CHOC’s goal is to improve the welfare and quality of care of children with cancer. 

We do this by providing the following services to the community;•Offer families a wide range of services including: 

• Home-from-home accommodation; psychosocial and practical support, education and hope.

•Funding for transport to ensure that no child abandons treatment because of a family not being able to afford transport costs.

•Fund the childhood cancer registry, advocate on behalf of the children and run an early detection and awareness campaign.

The CHOC Western Cape regional office implements CHOC’s programmes throughout the Western Cape. 

A recent study conducted by the Tygerberg Hospital found that a large number of children in the Western Cape are undiagnosed, or diagnosed when the cancer has already advanced. If diagnosed early 70%-85 of children can be cured. CHOC therefore has a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting communities, schools and clinics throughout the Western Cape to raise awareness and increase diagnosis.

CHOC Western Cape has three facilities that provide a ‘home from home’ for disadvantaged families that travel long distances for treatment. The Tygerberg Lodge provides assistance to families receiving treatment at Tygerberg Hospital, while the Plumstead House and our Bergvliet CHOC House take in families from Red Cross Children’s Hospital and the Groote Schuur Hospital. 

CHOC also assist these treatment centres to provide holistic care to the children. We’ve been instrumental in making the wards more child-friendly and have a dedicated volunteer programme that empowers the children while in hospital. Seeing that more than 80% of the children come from disadvantaged backgrounds, CHOC also assists with practical and nutritional support to the children and families.

At CHOC we believe in keeping more than hope alive. We celebrate health and life, and empower our children to do the same under difficult circumstances.    

To support CHOC in their stirling work, see the ad below, inviting you to participate in their annual corporate golf day. 

Contact details: www.choc.org.za