Early Xmas Present For Child Cancer Foundation

15 December 2005

Early Xmas Present For Child Cancer Foundation

The Child Cancer Foundation is to receive an early Christmas present in the form of a $30,000 donation from Telecom.

The Foundation was the winner of Telecom's annual Festive Cheer vote in which Telecom staff select a New Zealand charity to receive a $30,000 Christmas cheque.

Child Cancer Foundation chief executive Jim Barclay said the donation was the best possible Christmas present.

"We weren't expecting Santa to bring us anything quite like this, so it's put an early shine on our festive season.

"The money will be a great boost for our scholarship programme which helps children and young people with cancer enjoy a normal life, with a particular focus on access to educational opportunities," he said.

The Child Cancer Foundation offers up to $120,000 worth of funding for scholarships per year, with individual allocations capped at $2,000.

This year the Foundation provided about 60 children with scholarships. Recipients include an 8 year-old with a brain tumor who needed a laptop with a special keyboard to help counter eyesight problems caused by her treatment, and a 6 year-old with liver cancer whose treatment necessitated extra writing and speech tuition.

The Child Cancer Foundation receives no government funding, nor funding from other cancer support agencies, and relies solely on the generosity of New Zealanders.

ENDS

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