FoCP 'Toy Cart' team visits Tawam Hospital to spread cheer and hope among kids defying cancer

A delegation from the Friends of Cancer Patients charitable society (FoCP) has visited the Children's Cancer Ward at Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, to spread joy and cheer among the young heroes. The FoCP 'Toy cart' team was accompanied by the famous Freej character, ?Abood' and a cart loaded with toys. The ?Toy Cart,' as the name suggests, is a pushcart carrying toys and goodies for children while meaningfully engaging them as they battle their disease. It was an idea conceived by Dana Askari, an FoCP volunteer mother who lost her child to cancer in 2010, under the name of Candy Cart. The FoCP initiative under the same name has been running weekly at Dubai Hospital since 2012. The visiting FoCP delegation included Ameera Binkaram, President of the Board of Trustees and a founding member of the Friends of Cancer Patients charitable society, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Secretary-General for FoCP, in addition to other senior officials from both FoCP and Tawam Hospital. This is the second visit by FoCP to the hospital, which will henceforth be an ongoing feature once a month. The Freej character joined the other visitors in interacting with the children and distributing goodies among them as they did the rounds of the ward. Speaking on the occasion, Ameera Binkaram said, "It gives us pleasure to officially launch the ?Toy Cart' today at Tawam Hospital's Children's Cancer Ward. It began with the aim to ignite hope in the hearts of young cancer patients. "In a world where most people take the gift of life for granted, there are many who at a tender age, are touched by cancer and embark on an arduous journey towards recovery. FoCP's ?Toy Cart' initiative aims to bring hope, while assuring them that they are not alone in their fight. It is FoCP's objective to raise awareness and consciousness within society and provide these patients and their families much needed monetary and material support. This initiative forms part of a larger childhood cancer programme planned for 2014." Ameera continued, "Tawam Hospital staff are doing commendable work with these children. This goes a long way in helping such children towards a speedier recovery." Gregory F. Schaffer, CEO, at Tawam Hospital, said, "Initiatives such as the FoCP's ?Toy Cart' bring not only smiles to the faces of children who are defying all odds while grappling with cancer, but also much hope that goes a long way in ensuring their wellness. Additionally, such visits serve as encouragement to our staff at the hospital, which leaves no stone unturned in standing shoulder to shoulder with the kids in their fight against the disease. I thank the Friends of Cancer Patients charitable society for making this innovative initiative a regular feature of their cancer advocacy programme."