childcancer.org.nz

Child Cancer Foundation is a New Zealand charity that provides strength and comfort to families, parents and children impacted by childhood cancer. Its website, childcancer.org.nz, is the organisation's public hub: it explains how the foundation helps families, shares stories from the childhood cancer community, promotes events and appeals, and gives supporters ways to donate or get involved. It is aimed at two broad audiences — families in New Zealand navigating a child's cancer journey, and supporters who want to help them.

Who it serves

The foundation's stated focus is the whole family, not just the child with cancer. Its "How we help" section describes being there for a family "every step of the way" when a child has cancer. The site also notes that more than 1,500 children with cancer are counting on the foundation, and that every dollar donated means those children and their families "don't have to walk this journey alone."

Beyond parents and children, the site addresses siblings directly. Super SIBS Sessions are described as giving siblings of children with cancer a space to connect, have fun and build resilience.

What you can find on the site

Events and ways to support

Wig Wednesday, listed for 16 September, is the headline event on the homepage, framed around a fundraising goal and a direct donation link. The site also promotes a MR GROCER reusable bag, available online and at New World stores nationwide, as a purchase that gives back.

For people planning ahead, the site features a story about Janette, who has comforted hundreds of children with cancer since the 1970s and has chosen to leave a gift to Child Cancer Foundation in her Will — presented as one way to make a lasting difference.

Support for families

Families can apply for a Personal Development Grant (PDG) Moemoeā if they have a child impacted by childhood cancer who has not yet received one. The site directs readers to learn more about eligibility and the application process.

The foundation also works beyond direct family support. It has made a submission on the Disability Support Services Bill, calling for stronger safeguards and equitable access to services, and it has opened a Request for Proposals seeking a health economics provider for a New Zealand study measuring the lifetime economic burden of childhood cancer.

Advocacy and current issues

The site's news section shows the foundation engaging with policy and system-level questions, including:

• The Disability Support Services Bill submission
• A $15.5 million investment to expand palliative care nationwide, which the foundation notes will give families caring for children with life-limiting illness more specialist support at home
• A "fuel crisis" item stating that every child with cancer must be able to reach treatment, every time, without delay

These items sit alongside the foundation's stated aim of supporting improvements to childhood cancer care.

If you want to get involved

Start with the donation link tied to the current appeal, or check the What's New section for upcoming events. If you are a family seeking support, the "How we help" page and the Personal Development Grant page are the two most direct entry points. The site does not publish pricing for its services; donation amounts and grant details are handled through the linked pages rather than stated on the homepage.

Child Cancer Foundation's advocacy and research work sits alongside its direct family support. On its website, the organisation highlights three strands: a submission on the Disability Support Services Bill calling for stronger safeguards and equitable access to services; a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a health economics provider to measure the lifetime economic burden of childhood cancer in New Zealand; and its backing of expanded palliative care funding for families caring for children with life-limiting illness. Together these aim to improve childhood cancer care and survivorship, not just during treatment but across a lifetime.

Policy submissions and advocacy

Disability Support Services Bill

The Foundation has made a submission on the Disability Support Services Bill. Its stated position is to call for:

• Stronger safeguards
• Equitable access to services

This matters for families because children with cancer often need disability-related support, and the rules governing that support determine how easily families can actually access it. A submission is the formal channel for an organisation to put that position in front of decision-makers.

Palliative care funding

The site also notes that families caring for children with life-limiting illness are getting more support, describing a $15.5 million investment to expand palliative care nationwide. The Foundation frames this as more specialist support delivered at home. For families, the practical difference is where care happens — at home rather than only in hospital — and how much specialist help is available.

Fuel costs and access to treatment

One item on the site states plainly: "Every child with cancer must be able to reach treatment, every time, without delay," in the context of a fuel crisis increasing pressure on families in the Foundation's care. This is advocacy framed around a concrete barrier — transport cost — rather than a general appeal.

Research: measuring the lifetime economic burden

The Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals seeking an experienced health economics provider to help with what it calls a landmark New Zealand study. The purpose, as described, is to:

• Measure the lifetime economic burden of childhood cancer in New Zealand
• Strengthen future advocacy and survivorship care

This is the clearest example of research feeding advocacy. A health economics study produces cost figures — what childhood cancer costs families, the health system and the wider economy over a lifetime. Those figures then give the Foundation something concrete to cite when arguing for policy change or funding. The RFP is also a signal about method: the Foundation is contracting external expertise rather than running the analysis itself.

How the strands connect

The common thread is that each piece targets a system-level barrier rather than an individual family's immediate need. Direct support helps a family through treatment; this work tries to change the conditions that make treatment harder in the first place.

What this means if you're trying to understand or engage with it

• If you want the Foundation's formal positions, the submission on the Disability Support Services Bill is the item to look for — it is a public policy document rather than a general statement.
• If you work in health economics, the RFP is the entry point; it explicitly seeks an experienced provider, so it is a procurement process rather than an open call for comment.
• If you're tracking survivorship care, the health economics study is the item most directly tied to it, since the Foundation links the study to strengthening survivorship care as well as advocacy.
• If your interest is palliative care, note that the funding expansion is a government investment the Foundation supports, not a Foundation-run programme.

One limitation worth knowing: the site describes these initiatives at a summary level. The submission's full content, the RFP's scope and timeline, and the study's methodology are not set out in the material summarised here, so anyone needing those details should go to the source documents on the Foundation's site.

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:

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.

You can support Child Cancer Foundation (childcancer.org.nz) in four main ways: making a direct donation, joining a campaign event like Wig Wednesday, buying a partner product such as the MR GROCER reusable bag, or leaving a gift in your Will. The Foundation states that more than 1,500 children with cancer are counting on it, and that every dollar donated means they and their families "don't have to walk this journey alone." If you want your support to reach families directly, a one-off or regular donation is the most straightforward route; if you want to involve your workplace, school, or community, a campaign or partnership product gives you a ready-made structure.

Donate directly

The Foundation's homepage carries a Donate call to action tied to its current fundraising goal, alongside the line that more than 1,500 children with cancer are counting on supporters. This is the entry point for a cash gift.

• What it supports: The Foundation says donations go toward making sure children with cancer and their families don't have to face the journey alone.
• How to start: Use the Donate link on the homepage. The site does not publish specific suggested amounts, payment methods, or whether one-off versus recurring giving is available, so check the donation page itself for those details before you commit.
• If you want a goal to aim at: The homepage frames giving around "help push us to our goal," which suggests a campaign target is active at the time of writing. Campaign targets change, so treat any figure you see as current only for that moment.

Join a campaign event: Wig Wednesday

Wig Wednesday is the Foundation's named campaign event, listed on the homepage for 16 September, with the tagline "The fun's not over yet!"

This is the option to choose if you want fundraising to be social and visible rather than a private transaction — for example, a school mufti day, a workplace morning tea, or a community group activity built around wearing a wig.

• What it is: A dated campaign event promoted on the Foundation's site.
• How to take part: The homepage points to the event, and the site's "What's New" section lists upcoming events. Registration mechanics, whether there is a fundraising page, and any minimum targets are not described in the material available here, so confirm those on the event page.
• Why pick this over a plain donation: It gives you a reason to ask others to give, which usually raises more than a single personal gift.

Buy a partner product that gives back

The Foundation promotes a new MR GROCER reusable bag design described as "a new bag design that gives back." It is available online and at New World stores nationwide.

• Best for: People who want a low-effort way to contribute while getting something usable, or who want to support a brand partnership rather than donate cash.
• What to check: The homepage does not state how much of each purchase goes to the Foundation, so if the size of the contribution matters to you, look for that detail on the product or partner page before buying.

Leave a gift in your Will

The Foundation features the story of Janette, described as having comforted hundreds of children with cancer since the 1970s, and explains why she is choosing to leave a gift in her Will to Child Cancer Foundation — framed as a way to "make a lasting difference."

• Best for: Supporters who want to give at a scale that isn't possible during their lifetime, or who want their support to continue beyond it.
• What to do: The homepage links to her story and to more information on making a lasting difference. Because this involves your estate, take advice from a qualified legal professional in New Zealand about how to word the bequest; the Foundation's page explains its side, not your legal position.

Other ways the Foundation says you can help

Beyond giving money, the site describes several broader routes:

These are not donation channels themselves, but they show where the Foundation directs attention and money — useful if you want your support to align with a particular concern, such as siblings, advocacy, or access to treatment.

Quick guide: which option fits you

• Want the simplest action today: Use the Donate link on the homepage.
• Want to fundraise with others: Take part in Wig Wednesday on 16 September.
• Want to give while shopping: Buy the MR GROCER reusable bag online or at New World stores.
• Want to give beyond your lifetime: Look into leaving a gift in your Will, with legal advice.
• Want to support siblings specifically: Read about Super SIBS Sessions.

The Foundation's own framing is consistent across all of these: more than 1,500 children with cancer are counting on supporters, and the goal is that families don't walk the journey alone. Pick the route that matches how much time, money, and visibility you want to commit — and confirm current amounts, registration steps, and contribution percentages on the relevant page, since the homepage does not publish those specifics.

The Child Cancer Foundation website (childcancer.org.nz) features a rotating mix of fundraising events, family and volunteer stories, and advocacy news. The most prominent current event is Wig Wednesday on 16 September, and the featured stories include Janette, a comfort-giver since the 1970s, and Grace, diagnosed with leukaemia at age four. If you want to know what the organisation is doing right now — or whether it's worth your attention or support — the site's homepage and "What's New" section are where that activity is concentrated.

Upcoming Events

Wig Wednesday — 16 September

The headline event promoted on the site is Wig Wednesday, held on 16 September. The accompanying message — "The fun's not over yet!" — sits alongside a fundraising appeal noting that more than 1,500 children with cancer are counting on the Foundation, and that every dollar donated means those children and their families "don't have to walk this journey alone."

This is the clearest example of how the site pairs an event with a direct ask: the event creates a moment of visibility, and the donation link converts that attention into funding.

Other events and updates

A "What's New" section collects upcoming events and news in one place, so the events calendar isn't limited to Wig Wednesday. If you're planning to take part in something, this is the section to check rather than relying on the homepage alone.

Featured Stories

Janette — decades of comfort

One featured profile introduces Janette, described as having given comfort to hundreds of children with cancer since the 1970s. The story is framed around her decision to leave a gift to Child Cancer Foundation in her Will, and the site invites readers to see "how you can make a lasting difference, too."

This is a legacy-giving story rather than a service story — it shows how the Foundation uses long-standing personal relationships to encourage planned giving.

Grace — diagnosed at four

Another profile tells the story of Grace, who was four years old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. The framing is deliberately blunt: "Her family had a diagnosis, but life doesn't stop." That line signals what the story is really about — the practical and emotional load that continues alongside treatment.

Super SIBS Sessions — support for siblings

A separate feature covers Super SIBS Sessions, which give siblings of children with cancer "a space to connect, have fun and build resilience." This is one of the more specific programme stories on the site, and it addresses a group — brothers and sisters — that is often overlooked when the focus is on the child in treatment.

Scottie — 18 years of support

Tony "Scottie" Scott is profiled as a committed supporter of Child Cancer Foundation for the past 18 years. Like Janette's story, it's a long-term-commitment narrative, which suggests the Foundation leans on sustained volunteer and donor relationships in its storytelling.

News, Research and Advocacy

Beyond individual stories, the site's news section covers organisational and policy activity:

These items show the Foundation operating in three modes at once: direct family support, research commissioning, and policy advocacy.

How the Site Connects Stories to Action

Each featured story typically ends in a route to get involved:

• Donate — the Wig Wednesday appeal links directly to a donation page with a stated goal.
• Leave a gift in your Will — Janette's story leads to legacy-giving information.
• Apply for a Personal Development Grant Moemoeā — a call-out for families with a child impacted by childhood cancer who haven't yet received a Personal Development Grant.
• Shop — a new MR GROCER reusable bag design, available online and at New World stores nationwide, is promoted as giving back.
• Learn more — the "How we help" section explains the Foundation's support for families "every step of the way."

What This Tells You About the Organisation

If you're deciding whether to follow or support Child Cancer Foundation, the content mix is informative in itself. The site doesn't present itself as a clinical or treatment provider — it positions itself around family support, sibling wellbeing, financial and practical assistance, and systemic advocacy. The stories skew toward long-term relationships (Janette since the 1970s, Scottie for 18 years) and toward the reality that a diagnosis doesn't pause family life.

For anyone wanting current specifics — exact event dates beyond Wig Wednesday, grant eligibility details, or the status of the health economics RFP — the "What's New" section and the linked pages are the places to check, since the homepage content rotates.