Ms Moore says the fundraising push is successful because of the energy
being expended and the generosity from members of the public, at multiple
sites and events all across Northland and wider NZ.
It is understood more than $5000 may have been raised in Caroline's district, the Dargaville/Kaipara area alone, during this year's campaign, which added to the regional result.
Ms Moore says, the local ANZ bank branch and other organisations including; the Northern Wairoa Lions Club, held various events including; raffles and sausage sizzles.
She says the money goes
toward key areas: Cancer information
and support for clients and their whanau.
"We have nurses who support people with
cancer, especially at first diagnosis and then following treatment."
Experienced nurses visit people as needed at their homes and also provide
regular telephone support. A very recent evaluation of these services included
interviews with patients to hear the value of this service and people are really
appreciative of having someone independent who understands what they are going
through and who can give them advice, Ms Moore says.
"We also link people with the Look Good
Feel Better organisation, which deals with the side effects of treatment and hair loss, providing resources such as wigs and we have volunteers who
make bandanas for people to wear. We also have volunteers who make small, ‘porta pad’ cushions, to be placed between a car seatbelt and the patient's chest when a medication line, or porta cath, is in place.
The funding is also used for free accommodation
for cancer patients and a support person, while having treatment in
Auckland.
Other areas it is used include; health promotion work
in communities; eg., education and advocacy, especially around smoke free
environments and reducing tobacco availability. This involves lobbying local
and central government and working with communities to make change. The Society also
supports schools with their sun protection - Sunsmart programmes.
A significant amount of money goes to the Auckland-based
Cancer Research Centre, as 26 percent of all money raised goes into
research.
The Cancer Society is the largest private funder of cancer research in New
Zealand and has a strong relationship with the research centre,
which has an international reputation as a world leading anti-cancer drug
development laboratory.
The centre has brought eight drugs to clinical trial, filed
100 patent applications and has had more than 1200 scientific papers published.
It
plays a lead role in preparing the next generation of scientists through its
teaching contribution.
Cancer Society also
contributes to the Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Centre in
Otago.
The funds raised, benefit the people in the areas raised in, in NZ. So, money raised in Northland benefits
Northlanders.
"The Cancer Society is not only there for the cancer patient but also
for their whanau. Cancer Society Northland is currently increasing its linkages
with Maori communities and organisations to make sure we are available to
everyone who needs us," Ms Moore says.
She also champions the huge input of community volunteers in conjunction with all fundraising and patient representative organisations.
One such group is the Yellow Shirts, who support patients as they receive their chemotherapy treatments in the oncology units, at Whangarei and Kaitaia hospitals.
Ms Moore says the pattern of managing cancer has changed
over the last 20 years, with more successful treatments and drugs being available.
These days 67 percent of cancers are considered to be curable, she says.
