The #CancerKindness campaign is my way of giving back the kindness I've received in my cancer journey. Everyday kindness can be the difference between someone with cancer surviving and someone with cancer thriving. Ayman Barbaresco, Campaign Coordinator
Cancer Kindness
COVID-19 has brought uncertainty and unpredictability to the lives of all of us, so imagine facing cancer at the same time. While most people who contract COVID-19 will experience a relatively mild illness, for people with cancer whose immune system may be compromised, the risk of a severe response is significantly greater. This has meant many people affected by cancer have endured long periods of physical distancing and the added anxiety of COVID-19 at what is already an incredibly challenging time. Thankfully, acts of kindness can help make their journey easier.
The #CancerKindness campaign was founded by Ayman Barbaresco, who was passionate about supporting people affected by cancer. Ayman lived with cancer all his life and died just before the campaign launched. To honour his legacy, we are calling on the community to carry out an act of kindness for someone affected by cancer and share it on social media using the hashtag #CancerKindness.
The #CancerKindness campaign is a collaboration with Cancer Council Australia that aims to shine a light on the experiences of people affected by cancer and their carers during COVID-19, and offer practical ways for the community to support them.
The #CancerKindness campaign was founded by Ayman Barbaresco, who was passionate about supporting people affected by cancer. Ayman lived with cancer all his life and died just before the campaign launched. To honour his legacy, we are calling on the community to carry out an act of kindness for someone affected by cancer and share it on social media using the hashtag #CancerKindness.
The #CancerKindness campaign is a collaboration with Cancer Council Australia that aims to shine a light on the experiences of people affected by cancer and their carers during COVID-19, and offer practical ways for the community to support them.
How to participate
Here are some of the ways you can get involved in the campaign:
Some of the stories shared on Facebook will be uploaded to the story gallery below to show how #CancerKindness has helped others.
- People living with cancer: Share your story with us through our Facebook Group and use the hashtag #CancerKindness so we can find your post. Alternatively email us.
- Carers of people living with cancer: Carers play an important role in someone’s cancer journey so please share your story to help the community understand what you are experiencing and how they can help
- The community: Use the checklists below to identify what you can do to support someone affected by cancer, or share how you helped someone you love with an act of kindness during their cancer journey.
- Some of the stories shared on Facebook will be uploaded to the story gallery below to show how #CancerKindness has helped others.
Some of the stories shared on Facebook will be uploaded to the story gallery below to show how #CancerKindness has helped others.
Who you'll be helping
|
|
Checklists
Cancer Council has developed a checklist with some useful ideas and suggestions for ways you can help people affected by cancer. You can download the checklist here.
|
|
Story Gallery
See some of the ways #CancerKindness has helped others. If you would like to share your story here please email us here.
Sam McGowan
Receiving a cancer diagnosis was life changing, I have young children and a life I felt I wasn’t ready to leave behind or as I said I’m too busy to die! What helped me the most was my Family and my community.
Once I had a diagnosis and treatment plan I needed daily nurses and was incredibly lucky to have a good friend who is a nurse ( a shocking cook) but a wonderful nurse who came regularly to help me with the practical needs but came with a smile and welcomed distraction from my thoughts. Another thing that I found very helpful was a meal train another local friend set up which organised meals delivered to our home put in an esky at the door. I was at times so consumed with fear that planning a meal for the kids was just too much. I also took full advantage of the resources offered through my cancer centre, look good feel better, a group session with make up and wigs we laughed and had fun. I also saw a therapist that was offered this helped me off load the conversations I didn’t want to burden my family with as they were worried enough. I am forever grateful for every piece of kindness I received
Receiving a cancer diagnosis was life changing, I have young children and a life I felt I wasn’t ready to leave behind or as I said I’m too busy to die! What helped me the most was my Family and my community.
Once I had a diagnosis and treatment plan I needed daily nurses and was incredibly lucky to have a good friend who is a nurse ( a shocking cook) but a wonderful nurse who came regularly to help me with the practical needs but came with a smile and welcomed distraction from my thoughts. Another thing that I found very helpful was a meal train another local friend set up which organised meals delivered to our home put in an esky at the door. I was at times so consumed with fear that planning a meal for the kids was just too much. I also took full advantage of the resources offered through my cancer centre, look good feel better, a group session with make up and wigs we laughed and had fun. I also saw a therapist that was offered this helped me off load the conversations I didn’t want to burden my family with as they were worried enough. I am forever grateful for every piece of kindness I received
Megan Matthews
I am currently in hospital with my 12 month old son who is battling luekemia. we have just started sharing a room with another little boy and his family. tonight his dad walked in with bags of hot home cooked food made by his nonna for him to give and share with his family. shortly after arriving he popped his head through our curtain and said that when his nonna heard he was sharing a room with another family she cooked up a meal for us too then handed over a coles cooler bad filled with delicious food (enough to feed an army) my son happily ate his dinner without a fight for the first time in weeks. I have never met this woman but I'm going to bed tonight a very full and happy mumma.
I am currently in hospital with my 12 month old son who is battling luekemia. we have just started sharing a room with another little boy and his family. tonight his dad walked in with bags of hot home cooked food made by his nonna for him to give and share with his family. shortly after arriving he popped his head through our curtain and said that when his nonna heard he was sharing a room with another family she cooked up a meal for us too then handed over a coles cooler bad filled with delicious food (enough to feed an army) my son happily ate his dinner without a fight for the first time in weeks. I have never met this woman but I'm going to bed tonight a very full and happy mumma.
Sandie Furler
Just before Australia went into lockdown for Covid I was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was found accidentally when looking for something else. It is a very aggressive csncer but to be found at this stage was a miracle. Only 1 tumour and nearby lymph nodes active. My treatment was 5 weeks of radiation every day and a hard hit with chemotherapy. I have finally finished all my treatments and now just need to wait until the end of the month for my results, but so far it is looking like the radiation has shrunk the tumour to almost nothing. With the social isolating in full force and my situation with a severely compromised immune system, catching up with friends and their love and support was not an option. During all this my friends and family have supported me via social media and the phone, but it has been hard not being able to have a much needed hug. I have friends on here that I have never met but they have been equally supportive. One of those friends is Donna Gearing. We started out as customers with me buying craft supplies through her site, over time we started to send messages and our friendship evolved. Today I got up and hubby said there was a package for me. Beautiful flowers and a heart warming message from dear Donna. I was a bit overwhelmed by her caring and the love contained in those beautiful flowers. Although we have never met i am so lucky to have such a dear friend. Hopefully once we are all allowed to travel again I will get to meet this beautiful person (photos below).
Just before Australia went into lockdown for Covid I was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was found accidentally when looking for something else. It is a very aggressive csncer but to be found at this stage was a miracle. Only 1 tumour and nearby lymph nodes active. My treatment was 5 weeks of radiation every day and a hard hit with chemotherapy. I have finally finished all my treatments and now just need to wait until the end of the month for my results, but so far it is looking like the radiation has shrunk the tumour to almost nothing. With the social isolating in full force and my situation with a severely compromised immune system, catching up with friends and their love and support was not an option. During all this my friends and family have supported me via social media and the phone, but it has been hard not being able to have a much needed hug. I have friends on here that I have never met but they have been equally supportive. One of those friends is Donna Gearing. We started out as customers with me buying craft supplies through her site, over time we started to send messages and our friendship evolved. Today I got up and hubby said there was a package for me. Beautiful flowers and a heart warming message from dear Donna. I was a bit overwhelmed by her caring and the love contained in those beautiful flowers. Although we have never met i am so lucky to have such a dear friend. Hopefully once we are all allowed to travel again I will get to meet this beautiful person (photos below).
|
|
|
Ayman Barbaresco
Ayman Barbaresco was the driving force behind the #CancerKindness campaign. It was his dream to make this campaign a reality. Ayman died three days before the campaign was launched. We dedicate this campaign to Ayman and we call on acts kindness for people with cancer (and their carers) in his honour.
|
|
Resources
Cancer Council has developed a range of resources to support people affected by cancer during COVID-19. You can view these here. For further information and support from Cancer Council, visit cancer.org.au or call 13 11 20 or watch short film here
Media
- Media enquiries to [email protected] or call (02) 8063 4109.
- Media release here
Partners and contacts
This campaign is a collaboration with Cancer Council Australia. Cancer Council is the only charity in Australia to work across every area of every cancer, from research to prevention and support. We help people from the point of diagnosis through to treatment and survivorship. You can read more about Cancer Council’s work on cancer.org.au. Thanks to the Team
- Ayman Barbaresco, Campaign Coordinator
- Dr Catherine Barrett, Kindness Pandemic: [email protected]
- Tegan Brown, Media and Communications Manager: [email protected]
