Invaluable Cancer Support Services 

Facing cancer has physical, mental and emotional aspects. Our Clinical Team provide more than 4,000 counselling and therapeutic interventions for rangatahi annually. After receiving this support, 87% reported a significant improvement in their mental health, while 84% said they were able to manage their problems more effectively. With your ongoing donations, we are able to invest more than  $2.5 million into our vital services, including one-on-one counselling, peer events and more. We hold face-to-face and online events, giving more than 300 rangatahi the opportunity to connect and share their stories with others, build new connections and grow the confidence they need to carry on. 

Our Stories 

Ongoing donations have helped rangatahi like Erin and Lara feel less isolated while navigating their cancer journeys. 

Erin

At just 13 years of age, Erin’s life changed right in front of her eyes. After being diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Erin spent 2 years in intensive chemotherapy, which presented numerous challenges. She struggled to eat during her treatment and spent more than 100 nights in hospital, away from her friends and whānau, the majority of who were back home in the UK. 

Erin missed going to school and spending time with her friends, who couldn’t really understand or relate to what she was going through. When she joined Canteen, it opened up doors that enabled her to connect with a whole support network of rangatahi who understood what she was going through. For Erin, having this support available when she needed it was life-changing, and she even made a new best friend. After finishing her treatment in 2020, Erin became a Canteen Leader, learning to support other rangatahi impacted by cancer. 

Read Erin’s full story here. 

Lara

When Lara was only 10 years old, she was first diagnosed with Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and at age 14, she relapsed. She had to relocate homes and leave her school and friends behind so that she could re-start chemotherapy treatments. Lara had to quickly adapt to a new way of life while also navigating the physical side effects of undergoing treatment. 

Lara missed out on a lot of school and spending time with her friends as she felt they had moved on with life, and she got left behind. When she was finally able to go back to school, Lara couldn’t connect to her friends in the same way because they weren’t able to relate to what she was going through – and that’s where Canteen came in. She was able to connect with other rangatahi who were going through similar situations.

Lara also found the counselling sessions beneficial in helping her cope with the ongoing effects of her treatment and the PTSD she suffered from. She now feels more confident about managing the tough stuff and feels supported by a network of people who understand her.  

Read Lara’s full story here. 

Connecting to Education and Social Opportunities 

When rangatahi are faced with a cancer diagnosis, one of the biggest challenges they face is missing out on school. The joys of learning and socialising are taken away from them while they focus on cancer treatments. At Canteen, we know that rangatahi have a desire to stay connected to school and continue with their education. That’s why we have utilised the power of technology to create a special programme called the Robots Project. 

By using the Kubi app, rangatahi can stay connected to their classrooms, schoolwork, and peers in real-time while undergoing treatment. From attending classes to participating in discussions and interacting with friends during lunch breaks, they don’t have to worry about missing out while focusing on getting better. All rangatahi aged 12 to 18 who are diagnosed with cancer are eligible for this service.

Continue Making a Big Difference 

Feeling inspired to help? It’s easy to contribute! From small donations to fundraising events, there are many ways you can get involved and provide life-changing services for rangatahi impacted by cancer. Every donation makes a big difference. 

Get Involved

We’d love to hear from you if you are interested in supporting rangatahi facing cancer. Whether you are donating your time or money or raising awareness, we welcome contributions of all sizes. By working together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of rangatahi so they are never alone. Contact our friendly team today to learn more.