CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa

More About CHOC

 

Who we are

CHOC is registered with the Department of Social Development, South Africa:-

NPO Registration Number: 001-338 NPO

The CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation is a country wide voluntary organisation. It brings together the parents of children who suffer from all varieties of cancer or life threatening blood disorders.  

The first group started in Johannesburg in 1979, and in 2000 joined with other parent groups from all parts of the country to form a national organisation.

The goal of this dedicated group is to improve the welfare and quality of care for children with cancer, and their families.

The organisation, which is not Government funded, provides direct practical help to children with cancer, from diagnosis on, recognising the inevitable disruption to family life when a child faces vigorous and often lengthy treatment.

Funds raised are applied to directly benefit the children and their families, and also those involved in the treatment of these most serious illnesses.

There are currently divisions of the Foundation, based in:-

  • Johannesburg,

  • Pretoria,

  • Western Cape,

  • Free State,

  • Eastern Cape - East London & Port Elizabeth

  • KwaZulu Natal - Coastal & Midlands

Some of the divisions have branches to address specific local needs.

See contacts page for details. 

 

 

What we aim to provide

For the children and families:

  • Support groups to assist families to cope with the stress that the diagnosis brings.
  • Information and items of immediate practical use, to be made available to all newly diagnosed families.
  • Accommodation close to the treatment centres for families from out-of-town, and assistance with transport costs where necessary.
  • Transport aid, to enable families to complete treatment.

 

 

For the specialised treatment centres:

  • In close liaison with the medical staff, to ensure that the medical and physical facilities in the specialised units are of a high standard.
  • To ensure that the units provide a warm, child friendly environment.
  • Support for the medical and nursing staff to maintain and improve their levels of expertise in the specialised field of childhood cancer.

 

Generally

  • Children with cancer have special needs due to the often lengthy treatment and the uncertain future the diagnosis brings. The organisation aims to advocate and lobby on behalf of children with cancer; to ensure that the medical authorities provide the specialist units required nationally, and appreciate the ongoing problems and trauma that the families experience.
  • A Scholarship programme to provide financial assistance to children with cancer who require extra tuition through disruption of education, or who suffer effects of the disease and its treatment. 
  • Funding into research and studies investigating the causes and treatment of childhood cancer.