It is that time of the year when WOWS Kids Fiji takes on the leading role in the creation and raising of awareness of Childhood Cancer in Fiji.
WOWS Kids Fiji (WKF) is the only non-profit organisation, established in 2009 that champions the journeys of the children diagnosed with cancer by bringing to the forefront their needs and plights.
August is the month that WKF dedicates to actively engage in events and activities that raises the much-needed funds for our children with cancer, and drive childhood awareness initiatives.
WOWS Kids Fiji was established in memory of the beautiful and inspiring Tae Kami, who succumbed to cancer of the sinus at the tender age of 15, on August 16, 2008.
Tae penned the song “Walk on Walk Strong” which is the inspiration behind the name and acronym of “WOWS”.
The lyrics of the song is a testimony to her personal journey of faith in God, the love and support of family and friends that kept her going and to give hope to those facing difficulties in life, including cancer.
Cancer does not discriminate. While the world is suffering from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji and the Pacific still have numerous children suffering from cancer and their journeys now become even more vulnerable.
WKF recognises that people have lost jobs, organisations are struggling, and therefore there is a strain on its financial support from donors.
In the face of the global new-normal environment that everyone must adjust and adapt to, WOWS Kids Fiji is also re-setting its course with heightened determination and positivity that it will not lose track of its core function – that is to support the journeys of the children diagnosed with cancer in Fiji and the Pacific.
Having a child with cancer in a family is a life changing experience for the entire family because of the emotional and psychological pressure that come with it.
Financial struggles associated with the regular and lengthy medical treatments become an additional strain and can be unbearable for families in their cancer journey with their children.
So how does WKF fit into the picture?
What does WOWS Kids Fiji do?
WOWS Kids Fiji works in close collaboration with the staff at the Paediatric Oncology Units in Suva and Lautoka to help provide the medical support needed by our little champs.
WKF drives fundraising initiatives year in and year out for this purpose. Funds received through our generous donors (individuals and business houses) are dedicated to the following every year.
n Facilitation of access to treatments for children with cancer and supporting their families. These may include but not limited to the following:
- Transportation costs to and from hospitals for treatments and reviews, for both mainland Viti Levu and outer island travels;
- Monthly groceries supply and home visitations;
- Accommodation for family from outside of Viti Levu during treatment time;
- Financial assistance towards travelling expenses for overseas treatment (passport/visa application & airfares);
- Capacity building for support persons caring for children with cancer;
- Medical expenses support such as medication, diagnostic tests that are not available at the public hospitals;
- Financial assistance towards funerals; and
- Other appropriate support deemed necessary by the committee.
- Facilitate the furnishing of hospital wards that care for children with cancer. This includes purchasing of resources such as mattresses, TV, wheel chairs, etc. Special capital expenditures are considered subject to Board approval.
- Raising awareness of childhood cancer throughout the year to overcome the stigma and discrimination surrounding it. August is the childhood cancer month in Fiji and WOWS Kids Fiji champions that cause. We work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and key stakeholders and partners to build stronger partnerships so we can have a wider impact in our communities.
- Provision of moral support through counselling, nutrition and finance literacy that will help families in their cancer journeys with their children.
- Provision of educational support and programs for children while on treatment in the wards.
- Covering costs of transportation to help the Paediatric Oncology Units to facilitate the provision of palliative support for our patients.
- Where possible we support certain costs associated with the professional development of Oncology staff who may need to attend conferences or workshops that will help boost the care of our children with cancer.
- Additional support to parents from outside of Suva, while the child is admitted at hospital, for example meal packs and laundry services.
What is happening this August?
August marks the month of childhood cancer awareness.
This was launched in July by Mary Bainimarama, a stronger supporter of WOWS Kids Fiji and very passionate about its cause.
This August, our major fundraising events are the Shave or Save (SOS) campaign, the Great WOWS Walk, WOWS Market Day and our Saqamoli Drive.
The WOWS Shave or Save (SOS) Campaign
WKF is very fortunate this year to have the valuable support of the New Zealand High Commissioner, Jonathan Curr who has taken on the leading role in the SOS Campaign.
The NZ High Commissioner will be hosting this event at his residence, on Friday 14 August. He has secured the support of four other Heads of Missions (HOM) – Australian High Commissioner (John Feakes), US ambassador (Joseph Cella), French Ambassador (Jean Francois) and the British High Commissioner (Paul Welsh). Here is what the HOMs have to say about their SOS participation.
New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr
The COVID-19 Pandemic impacts not only our health but also our economies. Cancer patients are especially impacted.
Some are immune-suppressed because of the treatment they are undergoing. Some are vulnerable because of the overall state of health.
At the same time, support for charitable organisations is strained because many people have lost their jobs or are facing job insecurity.
This in itself is a reason to want to help the WOWS children’s cancer charity to support people in great need.
In addition, both my wife Fololeni and I – like so many others – have lost our mothers to cancer. My Mum passed away in 2005 after a battle with breast cancer that began in 1996.
Fololeni’s Mum passed away in 2015 also from breast cancer.
My father is currently being treated for prostate cancer. Seeing our parents and other loved ones – courageously take on this disease has made us want to support others doing the same.
WOWS is an organisation that offers child cancer patients not just access to support and medical treatment but also hope.
Hope for a full recovery. Hope for a normal life. Hope is something all of us need – please get behind this fundraising endeavour, however you are able and give these children and their families hope for a better tomorrow.
Australian High Commissioner John Feakes
I wanted to get involved in this event to support the wonderful work WOWS does.
With so much focus on COVD-19, it is important to remember that children in Fiji are still being diagnosed with cancer.
Families are still dealing with the heartbreaking consequences of a cancer diagnosis. I want to do all I can to try and help those families going through this.
I say with complete honesty that I cannot contemplate how people deal with grief and pain that would be involved in having a child diagnosed with cancer, let alone death.
I salute WOWS for the work it does and hope this hair-shaving event can generate funds to support it. I’d encourage everyone who can to support the event.
US Ambassador Joseph Cella
WOWS Kids Fiji and through their collaboration with the Ministry of Health providing better support for families and their children living with cancer, is doing an important work.
Amid this costly, cruel and deadly pandemic, I am greatly delighted that I will be sheared to spread joy, get some people to laugh, while raising some financial support for a worthy cause.
French Ambassador Jean Francois
It is only normal to accept a small sacrifice in order to help children in need and their families.
Words are useless in that respect. What matters is to do something useful.
Shaving my head is a very small thing, the least I can do to help WOWS help the children and their families.
This situation does not need any additional motivation.
We are all part of a community, all responsible for each other.
The pain of a kid and of the kid’s family is something we should always pay attention to. WOWS is trying its best to alleviate that pain and deserves our respect and our support.
I do hope that we can help WOWS raise some additional money. If it comes with the cost of us having to shave our heads, so be it.
British High Commissioner
Paul Welsh
I have only recently arrived in Suva and was thrilled to learn that my diplomatic colleagues were embarking on this fabulous campaign.
I was delighted to join. I have previously raised money for children’s cancer charities in the UK by running marathons so am pleased to contribute to such a worthy cause in a less strenuous manner!
A relative of mine, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer as a 10 year old, four years ago. The diagnosis was devastating for her parents and sister.
They launched a funding campaign for their little girl to travel to the US to receive Proton Therapy.
I am delighted to say that the cancer is currently in remission. The experience that the whole family went through was unimaginably distressing. I am so proud of the bravery they all showed. As a newcomer, I have not seen any of WKF’s work. But I can see from their website that they do exceptionally important work.
I love that they have a song – Walk on Walk Strong. Hopefully we will get a chance to sing it!
The Great WOWS Walk
It is expected to be launched on Monday August 10. Details will be widely advertised through the media.
WOWS Market Day
Will be on Saturday August 29 at the Resource Centre on 251 Rewa St, Samabula. Details will be widely advertised through the media.
WOWS Saqamoli Drive
Our Saqamoli Cans have been widely distributed around Suva to business houses and organisation that have always been supportive of WKF in August.
Despite the Covid19 pandemic, we have received many new interests in this drive.
For groups and organisations that wish to support us by placing these cans in their offices or shops, please contact us via email on wowskidsfiji@gmail.com or adminfj@wowskids.org
- Sina Kami, founder of the Tae Kami Foundation in Tonga to which WOWS Kids (Fiji) is affiliated,. The views expressed are the author’s and does not reflect the views of this newspaper,
