West Pack Lifestyle donates R80 000 to CHOC
RIVONIA – Customers of West Pack Lifestyle Centre donate R80 000 to the Childhood Cancer Foundation on 9 January to assist with the transport and accommodation costs for children with cancer.
Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) welcomed the generous donation of R80 000 from West Pack Lifestyle Centre at their head office in Rivonia on 9 January.
The money was collected through a competition in stores nationwide over the festive season, encouraging shoppers who spent over R200 to enter and stand the chance to win money for themselves which West Pack would match for a donation to a charity of the winner’s choice.
Three of the winners nominated CHOC, bulking up the funds for the South African charity that supports children diagnosed with cancer and their families.
CHOC CEO Carl Querios said that the foundation exists to assist children with cancer with everything other than the medical treatment itself. “When parents are told that their child has cancer, it can be a very challenging journey. You need everything from treatment to emotional and practical support with things like transport and accommodation,” said Querios.
He added that the money would be used to support the transport funds used for children who live far from the hospitals where they receive treatment.
“For a low-income family, they might not have a place to stay near the hospital where the child is undergoing treatment. We assist by providing housing for the families and emotional support,” added Querios.
Mogi Naidoo, nominated CHOC to receive a donation of R20 000 from West Pack Lifestyle, said she selected the foundation because of her passion for children. “My mom died of cancer and I’m so passionate about kids. CHOC has a heart for kids with cancer and so do I,” she said.
Rianda Laurens and her mother Mariana Fourie, who contributed R50 000 to the donation said, “When I was on holiday, I got a phone call from West Pack Lifestyle and thought someone was pranking me. When I realised that I had won R50 000, I called my mom whose till slip it was. She suggested we share the money and agreed to select CHOC as our charity of choice.”
Querios said that CHOC has been running for 38 years, assisting over 2 600 children diagnosed every year, as well as their families.
“CHOC aims to make the journey easier for people and it literally saves lives through awareness education. South Africa has good treatment in public and private hospitals but the problem is late diagnosis,” he said.
CHOC relies completely on donations from the public to keep doing their work. They require R25 to R30 million each year to assist children and rely heavily on corporates, individuals, fundraising events and schools to keep going.
Details: To find out more about the work of CHOC, how to donate and volunteer, visit www.choc.org.za
