Cancer Support for Rangatahi 

Did you know that Canteen Aotearoa is the only national organisation in the country dedicated to providing tailored support for rangatahi and their whānau when they are impacted by cancer? We do this without direct funding or government support, relying on donations, fundraising and gifts to continue offering our vital services and practical support to those aged 13 to 24. 

One of the ways we use your donations is to provide an online platform for rangatahi to connect, share stories and receive the support they need to feel less alone as they face upheaval in their lives. Your donations of time and money also provide ongoing peer support programmes and events. These include fun activities like bowling, movie nights and online events like book clubs or gaming nights for those who can’t attend in person. In addition, we run a range of programmes and camps tailored to help rangatahi get their lives back on track when they have been impacted by cancer. 

At Canteen, we also provide rangatahi and their whānau with counselling and therapeutic sessions to help them cope. After accessing these sessions, 87% of rangatahi said their mental health improved, and 84% said they could deal more effectively with the challenges they faced.

You Can Help 

We help more than 750 rangatahi access our specialist cancer support services annually, and with your support, this number will continue to grow. 

If you are ready to help now, there are a few ways you can start supporting Canteen Aotearoa. In addition to one-off or monthly donations, you can help to fundraise, put your hand up to sell our iconic bandanas or encourage your friends, whānau, and workplace to get involved by setting up a fundraiser, becoming a Canteen partner, or even making a bequest.   

Our Stories

With ongoing support from thousands of caring Kiwis like you, rangatahi like Lacie and Finn have connected with a strong support network through Canteen. 

Lacie

When Lacie was five years old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour that meant she had to spend years going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This meant spending large chunks of time receiving treatment in the hospital. 

While Lacie came through her cancer treatment successfully, a side effect of the treatment was infertility. As she grew up, she wasn’t comfortable discussing this with her doctors or her parents. Canteen Aotearoa was able to connect Lacie with other rangatahi who were dealing with similar challenges. Being able to talk about her struggles with someone her own age helped her with her feelings of isolation, and she was able to learn strategies to cope with grief, loss and change. 

Read Lacie’s full story here.

Finn

Finn was only 14 years old when his older sister was diagnosed with malignant tumours in her kidneys and liver. He saw firsthand the devastating impact this had on his sister and whānau. Finn struggled to cope and hated pretending that everything was normal. With the support of Canteen, he was able to connect with others who could relate to and understand what he was going through. Our peer events allowed Finn to relax and enjoy himself, taking a much-needed respite from the challenges his whānau were facing. 

Read Finn’s full story here.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, individual and peer support events were made possible, enabling Lacie and Finn to navigate their journeys, build strong networks with Canteen members, and regain the confidence to live life to the fullest. Rangatahi Development is a crucial programme at Canteen that helps rangatahi get their life back on track after being impacted by cancer. It enables them to grow their skills, develop as leaders, and learn to support others impacted by cancer.

Make a Difference

Your donations ensure Canteen Aotearoa can continue to provide life-changing services to rangatahi and their whānau -  it really is possible to make a difference. 

Make a donation now, or contact our friendly team today if you have any questions or want to discuss setting up a fundraiser, joining us as a partner, or to hear more about the work that we do.