Thank you for Flip’n with us!

Flip Flop Day was definately not a Flop!

We just wanted to give a big shoutout to everyone who participated in our Flip Flop Day on the 14th of February. Your enthusiasm and creativity brought so much colour and fun to the day.

To our partners, Tekkie Town, Ipanema, and the Courier Guy – a special thank you. We could not have done this without you.

And to everyone who shared their flip flop photos on social media, we appreciate you. Your posts helped spread the word and made our event even more special.

Antonella Swanepoel
Business Development Unit Manager

A Mother’s Journey

A Story of Hope, Resilience, and Unsung Heroes

Our story began in 2015 when in one moment our lives completely fell apart. Jordan was diagnosed with a very rare form of thyroid cancer, and added to that, a type of cancer with no available treatment options in South Africa. Your child has cancer is one of the worst things any mom or parent can hear. So, there I was, I had to become a narrator of a story I didn’t want to be part of, let alone write. This had to be someone else’s story, surely not mine, not what I had planned out for myself and my children. A story facing many struggles mentally and physically.

So, what do you do? You fight like you have never fought for anything in your life.

You fight so hard that in the process you don’t even realise that you lose a part of yourself, you lose relationships, friends, family and not to mention the enormous pressure and feeling of neglect your other children feel. But this was our story and I had to write it. I refused to believe and accept that there was nothing more to do and so I started doing research begging and pleading with doctors from all around the world to give my son a chance to live because there was no way my or his story was going to end this way. Hours and hours I sat and read medical journals, searched the internet and became accustomed to a word I could only pronounce in syllables. It is also during this time that I realised that google is not your friend but in fact a very nasty person that uses words like no options, life expectancy etc.

And boy, not even to mention when you talk to doctors and you mention some of those syllable words, they think you are from the same country because the conversations that follow are the ones in my head thinking, Doctor….. please talk slower, nope not French please, South African. You are now even more confused and anxiety attacks are becoming regular. I felt like running away. I was tired of hearing that I must be strong and must keep believing, it’s very difficult to believe when you are constantly being given bad news.

And when I thought all hope was lost after hours of e-mails to foreign countries, Jordan was accepted into a trial programme in Washington for children with this rare form of cancer. And so started my fundraisers and countless trips to the United States.  Each trip gave me hope.  Going back and forth seeing doctors and bringing back 6 months supply of chemotherapy. Months turned into a year then two then three the chemo was working, it was not a cure, but it was working he was stable. And then Covid hit, suddenly there were no more trips which meant no more chemo and my life fell apart all over again. How could I look my child in the face and tell him…? I failed him, I wanted to die.

What followed was many fights, e-mails to pharmaceutical companies because now we had to beg and plead for this drug to be supplied on a compassionate basis. At 6000 dollars a month this was a death sentence in itself, my child needed this drug to stay alive, time was slowly ticking away. One month became two, three, four. All that kept me going was a doctor saying the drug would stay in his system for some time… I had literally nothing more to give, I had nothing left. I pleaded to God for another miracle. Sometimes I thought God must be saying please close the doors and windows because the crazy lady is at it again.

But they did it, not me, them. We secured another 3 years’ worth of chemo. All because of my team of unsung heroes the handful of people that stood by me when I thought the world was failing my child. My unsung heroes are among you all. Some of my heroes took in my children, fed them, helped with countless fundraisers and sometimes they just listened. They kept me going. I would not be standing here today if it wasn’t for them. They might be the person sitting next to you. They don’t want to be noticed; they don’t want any awards they are just there, silently waiting to pick you up when you fall. I have witnessed and experienced the dire need of parents that had to give up everything. Those that have had to face huge financial burdens, those with no support system, those lost and alone.

And although our journey still continues with many obstacles along the way and our fight is not over, I have become a narrator of a story filled with gratitude, faith and determination, one with a different outlook on life. I value and treasure each and every moment because I know someone somewhere has my back. I lift my head up high and hope in someway to be the voice for parents and children facing the same struggles knowing that hope is not lost. I gather strength from a little boy, no sorry teenager, that wakes me up at night saying thank you for looking after me, there is no one I love more than Jordan, and those unsung heroes in every form and shape around me.

I want to end off by saying, be the change you want to see in the world. Be that unsung hero for us, for these children, for this organisation and let’s keep hope alive.

With love,
Eileen

International Childhood Cancer Day

Every year, over 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. In South Africa, around 1,000 new cases are recorded annually—but many children remain undiagnosed and untreated due to barriers in accessing healthcare.

This #ICCD2025, we stood together to raise awareness, advocate for early detection, and fight for equal access to life-saving treatment. No child should be left behind!

Join us in supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer. Spread the word, share your story, and be part of the change!

Read our Joint Press Release Here

We invite you to join us in the global movement to raise awareness and support for children and teens with cancer, survivors, and their families.

As we mark over 45 years of impact, we’re share a very special podcast featuring experts, survivors, and advocates discussing early diagnosis, access to care, and hope for the future.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Turn Your Taxes Into Hope

Why donate to CHOC this Tax Season

At CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, your generosity makes a tangible difference in the lives of children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening blood disorder, and their families.

Did you know that your donation can also benefit you?

As a registered Public Benefit Organisation, CHOC is approved to issue Section 18A tax certificates, allowing you to claim your donation as a tax-deductible expense (up to 10% of taxable income).

Here’s how to request your Section 18A Tax Certificate:

1. Complete the Form:
   • Individual donors: Download the form here.
   • Company/Trust/School donors: Download the form here.
2. Submit Proof of Payment: Send your completed form and proof of payment to fam@choc.org.za.
3. In-Kind Donations: Provide supporting documentation for verification.*

*Note (In-Kind Donations): 
Section 18A Certificates can be issued for in-kind donations on receipt of supporting documentation required to verify the cost of the in-kind donation incurred by the donor.  If items are purchased from a supplier the receipt or invoice will be sufficient. If items are donated from the company’s stock, then an invoice or supporting document reflecting the cost price will be required. The certificate will be issued with the total amount excluding VAT. These documents must be submitted with the Section 18A Request Form mentioned above.

Please ensure that your information complies with updated tax certificate regulations (effective 1 March 2023) in terms of Government Gazette Notice No. 48104 published on 24 February 2023.
Bonus for Businesses:

Qualify for SED points with a letter confirming CHOC’s impact, including third-party verification.

For any queries, please contact us at donations@choc.org.za

Your contributions help sustain vital services and provide hope to families in need. Request your Section 18A certificate today and let’s keep making a difference together!

Why Support CHOC

At CHOC, we wake up each day with a clear purpose: to serve and support children, parents, families, and communities through their cancer journey—ensuring that we keep more than hope alive.

This level of care and support is made possible through generous corporate sponsorships and donations from individuals and groups committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children with cancer.

Our reporting on expenditure is detailed and accurate and we provide audited financial statements annually. Cash donations qualify for a tax deduction and CHOC will issue the relevant documentation to donors within a four-week period. We have demonstrated visible growth and proven we deliver results. CHOC is governed by a board and executive committee and complies with South African labour laws and employment equity requirements, which are reported on annually.

• CHOC strives to maintain administration cost at 20% of total expenditure thus 80% of funds acquired are utilised for our programmes. This is significantly higher than the NGO sector average of between 60% and 70% utilisation on core activities.
• In 2010 CHOC was voted the 7th most trusted and admired NGO in the Ask Afrika Trust Barometer Awards.
• In 2013 MySchool, MyVillage, MyPlanet voted CHOC as the favorite NGO in SA.
• We are POPI Compliant.

Every donation directly benefits children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with cancer or a life threatening blood disorder, and their families while also supporting those involved in their treatment. With your support, we can continue to provide vital care, advocacy, and hope for children facing cancer.

Awareness Training and Education Programme Update:

Over the past few months, the Awareness, Training, and Education (ATE) Programme has been actively engaged in critical awareness initiatives.

Medical Training and Education

In December we facilitated a Continued Professional Development (CPD) accredited talk for doctors in Northwest Province, while in February we trained 17 more doctors from the same province.

These virtual and in-person sessions were led by our esteemed patrons, Prof. Gita Naidu and Prof. Poole, both instrumental in the development of the IMCI Addendum for Childhood Cancer.

Expanding Training in Gauteng

We have achieved full participation in Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) training across all five health districts in Gauteng for this financial year. These sessions are designed to equip Professional Nurses in Primary Health Facilities with essential skills for early cancer detection. To ensure our Gauteng trainers were fully prepared, we conducted a refresher training and provided them with a newly designed lesson plans.

Expanding to Other Provinces 

Beyond Gauteng, our training initiatives have reached Mpumalanga, the Western Cape, and the North West, with a primary focus on training Primary Healthcare (PHC) nurses.

Community Awareness and World Cancer Day

On February 4th, in collaboration with our sister organisation Pink Drive we commemorated World Cancer Day in Slovoville, Soweto. The community members were educated on:

• The Early Warning Signs of Childhood Cancer
•  Anti-stigmatisation efforts to support children with cancer and their families

Childhood Cancer International

CHOC is honored to be part of Childhood Cancer International (CCI), the largest global network of childhood cancer parent and survivor organisations. Founded in 1994, CCI unites over 180 organisations across 90+ countries, working together to support children with cancer, survivors, and their families.

Through collaboration, advocacy, and shared knowledge, we strive to improve childhood cancer care and long-term survivorship worldwide. Together, we are stronger in the fight against childhood cancer!

CHOC Supports This Vital Webinar on Fertility Preservation for Survivors:

We’re proud to share this important event hosted by our sister organisation, the Global Childhood Cancer Survivors Network!

Join the “Saving Lives and Futures: Fertility Preservation Is Key in Survivorship” webinar on March 8, 2025, at 3 PM CET, where leading experts and survivor advocates will discuss the often-overlooked issue of fertility preservation for childhood cancer survivors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, share, and advocate for better survivorship care.

Register here

Giving to Children by CCI

Wondering why to donate through Giving2Children

 

Join us in making a difference. Support CHOC and Giving2Children today.

Join us at one of our upcoming events!