More New Zealanders will get cancer this year than ever before, which makes the 34th Daffodil Day campaign for the Cancer Society its most important appeal to date.
Who could be better to explain the importance of the services and activities that donations fund than those who have been on both sides of Cancer Society’s support?
This year’s Daffodil Day campaign centres on “the 1 in 3” – the one in three New Zealanders that will get cancer in their lifetime. Among those who have shared their personal stories of how they relate to the “1 in 3” message are one of Cancer Society’s volunteer drivers and a cancer nurse.
Michael Sharp has been a volunteer driver with the Cancer Society for 16 years and estimates he’s driven about 1200 clients around 23,000kms in his car to help them get safely to and from treatment.
Recently he began treatment for lung cancer and experienced the Cancer Society’s volunteer driving service as a passenger for the first time.
He says he knows that donations are “money well spent because the government can only do so much”.
He has witnessed the relief and gratitude for the service of the passengers he drives to treatment and now, having been a patient himself, he says he “was in awe” of the treatment and wraparound support he was given.
Rachel Carter is one of the nurses at the Cancer Society who offer one-on-one support to the “1 in 3” and their friends and whānau. Her role involves either phoning or visiting patients as often or as little as needed by the person and their family.
“We talk about everything that has to do with cancer and how its impacting on them and their lives.”
Rachel believes the role of Cancer Society nurses “is perfect for bridging the gap between people in the community and the hospitals”.
“People get a truckload of information at the hospitals and they are listening to all this stuff but not necessarily taking it all on board. So we can be that bridge and support. The person can go over the same thing a dozen times if needed. We can help people to understand what happens when and why.”
Rachel is grateful that the Cancer Society was there for her mother when she was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment. As it happened during the Covid lockdown Rachel couldn’t be with her mum so was incredibly grateful for the “amazing support” of Cancer Society’s volunteer driving service and nursing support.
Rachel says her mum will always be a part of her work. “Hopefully I channel a lot of her strength in my role”.
More stories from Cancer Society staff, patients, volunteers and researchers sharing their connection to the “1 in 3” message can be found on the Daffodil Day website daffodilday.org.nz.
Daffodil Day donations can be made online at daffodilday.org.nz at any time, at any branch of the ANZ bank – the Cancer Society’s major sponsor, anywhere a daffodil day QR code is displayed and look out for volunteer street collectors on Daffodil Day, Friday 30 August, as well as on Thursday 29 August and Saturday 31 August in some locations.
For further information or to arrange media interviews please contact:
Maria De Cort
Senior Communications Advisor, Cancer Society of New Zealand
maria@cancer.org.nz
021 991 952
About the Cancer Society of New Zealand
The Cancer Society of New Zealand is the country's leading organisation dedicated to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care for New Zealanders. We are committed to working with communities and decision makers by providing leadership and advocacy in cancer control, with core services in information and support, research and health promotion.
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cancer.org.nz
daffodilday.org.nz
facebook.com/cancersocietyNZ
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