简体中文
EnglishHow does Child Cancer Foundation help children and families?
Updated
Child Cancer Foundation (childcancer.org.nz) supports families in New Zealand from the point of a child's cancer diagnosis onward. Its stated approach is to be there "every step of the way" for the whole whānau, combining direct family support with financial grants, sibling programmes, and advocacy for better childhood cancer care. The sections below cover each of those areas, based on what the organisation publishes on its own site.
Family support through the cancer journey
The Foundation describes its core role as walking alongside families when a child has cancer, rather than offering a single one-off service. Its "How we help" section frames this as ongoing support for the family unit, not just the child receiving treatment.
A recurring theme in its published stories is that a diagnosis does not pause the rest of family life. One featured family, whose daughter Grace was diagnosed with Leukaemia at age four, puts it plainly: the family had a diagnosis, but life doesn't stop. That framing is useful for understanding what the support is designed to address — the practical and emotional load that continues alongside treatment.
Personal Development Grant Moemoeā
The Foundation offers a Personal Development Grant (PDG) Moemoeā for children impacted by childhood cancer.
- Who it's for: children affected by childhood cancer who have not yet received a Personal Development Grant.
- How to start: the Foundation directs families to a "Learn more" page for the grant, which is the entry point for checking eligibility and applying.
If your child has already received a PDG, the Foundation's wording indicates the grant is not intended to be received again, so it is worth confirming your situation before applying.
Support for siblings: Super SIBS Sessions
Siblings of a child with cancer are explicitly included in the Foundation's work. Its Super SIBS Sessions are described as giving siblings of children with cancer a space to connect, have fun, and build resilience.
This matters because siblings often sit outside the centre of attention during treatment while still carrying their own disruption and worry. A programme built around connection and resilience targets that gap directly.
Advocacy and systemic work
Beyond direct family support, the Foundation works on the policy and system side of childhood cancer care:
- Disability Support Services Bill — the Foundation made a submission calling for stronger safeguards and equitable access to services.
- Palliative care funding — it highlights a $15.5 million investment to expand palliative care nationwide, which it says will give families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses more specialist support at home.
- Health economics research — it has issued a Request for Proposals seeking an experienced health economics provider for a landmark New Zealand study to measure the lifetime economic burden of childhood cancer, aimed at strengthening advocacy and survivorship care.
- Treatment access — it raises the pressure that fuel costs place on families in its care, arguing that every child with cancer must be able to reach treatment, every time, without delay.
It also states that it supports health professionals as well as families, so its advocacy is not limited to individual family cases.
Ways to get involved or give
The site lists several concrete routes for people who want to contribute:
| Route | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Donate | The Foundation says more than 1,500 children with cancer rely on it, and every dollar donated is framed as helping families not walk the journey alone |
| Wig Wednesday (16 September) | A named fundraising event on the Foundation's calendar |
| Leaving a gift in your Will | Featured through the story of Janette, who has supported children with cancer since the 1970s |
| MR GROCER reusable bag | A new bag design available online and at New World stores nationwide, with proceeds giving back |
| Events and updates | A "What's New" section listing upcoming events |
What to do next
If you are a family seeking support, the most direct starting points on the site are the "How we help" page and the Personal Development Grant Moemoeā page. If you are a sibling programme enquiry, look for Super SIBS Sessions under the Foundation's news and programmes. If you want to give or fundraise, the donation page, Wig Wednesday, and the MR GROCER bag are the clearest entry points.
Note that the Foundation's published material does not state costs, eligibility thresholds, or application timeframes for its grants and programmes — those details sit on the individual pages linked from its site, so check there before relying on any assumption about who qualifies or how long a decision takes.