Schoolkids send messages of hope to cancer patients at Christmas time

Albury-Wodonga, Australia – School children from Corowa and Albury have shared colourful messages of hope to local patients undergoing cancer treatment during the festive season.

Cancer care provider GenesisCare in East Albury has created a colourful display of art and hopeful messages from Lavington Primary School and Corowa’s St Mary’s Catholic School children in the lead-up to Christmas.

GenesisCare Radiation Oncologist Dr Johnathon Wake visited the students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Corowa to talk about working in medicine and the importance of hope for patients at this time of year: “We invited the kids to take part in some colouring as we talked about the importance of hope and our role as a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, who treat patients with radiation therapy. As cancer has touched so many of our lives, it was a wonderful opportunity to share with the kids that there are people who do their best to help, if they or their loved ones become unwell. Our role is scientific but it's also about delivering care in a compassionate way,” said Dr Wake.

“The festive season can be more challenging for cancer patients who may not feel like celebrating or may find it difficult to socialise and eat with their family and friends during the holidays. The children’s artworks bring new optimism to the centre at this time and brighten our waiting room for patients.”

St Mary’s Primary School Teacher Beck Chadwick said: ”The kids were very excited for Dr Johnathon and Rachel to visit our classroom, they thoroughly engaged with them and were intrigued with the medical equipment, wigs and the radiation machine video.”

GenesisCare patient Melissa said: “The artwork adds some nice and bright colours to the waiting room, brings a smile to your face, it is really sweet of the kids and the teachers to think of doing something nice for the patients.”