Take a tour of Childhood Cancer Support with Logan as your guide
Navigating life with a child with cancer… that’s hard enough.
But can you imagine coping far away from home?
That’s why we exist
Childhood Cancer Support
Childhood Cancer Support is a children’s cancer charity that was formed in 1975 when a group of desperate parents, with children being treated for leukemia and cancer, met to discuss ways of helping each other and their children. Childhood cancers and leukemia are distinctly different from their adult forms and, recognising this, these visionaries identified the need to help children that had been diagnosed.
At Childhood Cancer Support’s inception, activities were concentrated on the unmet and emerging needs by parents enduring this demanding journey. From the outset the group focused on advocacy and improvement in treatment facilities, including the need for skilled personnel and specialised equipment. But this focus rapidly expanded to include emotional and financial support, as well as the need for specialised residential accommodation for regional families with children undergoing treatment.
2,079 Passengers transported in 2018
to and from hospital, airport pickups
44 families provided a place to call home
during treatment in 2018 in our long-stay units
Initially funds were limited, but in 1976, the group was successful in obtaining a mortgage and purchasing their first residential facility in Herston, close by the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital. This provided regional families with an accommodation solution; enabling them to take a break from hospital life and perform the “normal” things like taking a shower, cooking a meal or just sitting in a comfortable chair.
As one of Australia’s well-respected children’s cancer charities, Childhood Cancer Support has now grown into a six-house facility comprising 17 fully self-contained family styled units that provides parents with a long-term accommodation alternative. 13 units are located in the leafy suburb of Herston with playground, manicured gardens, a community room and gym; and 4 units in close proximity to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane. All our units are private, comfortable and recently renovated.
In addition, Childhood Cancer Support provides short-term accommodation in our modern house in South Brisbane (just a 5-10 minute walk from the Queensland Children’s Hospital) for families that have returned home and need to come to Brisbane for regular medical check-ups.
Nowadays, childhood cancer treatment is far more cutting-edge, but can still stretch on for months or even years, and the high familial demands can extend beyond the family to impact on the community. However, Childhood Cancer Support is strongly family-focused, and we support the affected children, their families and communities throughout each stage of the journey, regardless of the outcome for the child.
