Periodic Report Summary - DIRECT (Disseminate research funded by EC improving Treatment options for children suffering from cancer)
DIRECT: EC-funded project to promote the success story of childhood cancer research to the general public
To illustrate the efficient treatments currently available to European children and adolescents with cancer, pass on hope, trust and courage to young cancer patients being currently under treatment and foster public awareness of the necessities in providing clinical, psychological and psychosocial cure for childhood cancer patients and survivors in future, the DIRECT project team organised two activities in Austria and Germany which both have been given extensive media coverage.
On 6 September 2009, eight young childhood cancer survivors from Austria, Germany and Poland aged seventeen to thirty-six undertook a five-day adventure to Austria's highest peak. Accompanied by DIRECT project representatives from St. Anna Children's Hospital and Children's Cancer Research Institute, an outdoor psychologist, a professional film team and mountain guides, they overcame all dangers and hurdles, such as ice fields and fixed rope routes, and made it right to the Grossglockner top at 3 798 meters.
The coordinating mountain guide was highly impressed: 'These young people display an incredible inner strength, determination and endurance.' 'I am trying to use what I have learned as a result of my cancer in everyday life, such as stamina, perseverance and hopefulness. This way at least I did not go through all this in vain,' explained Lisbeth, the youngest alpinist of the group.
During the eight-day Rainbow tour, the participants - forty childhood cancer survivors - left 600 kilometers behind them as they cycled from Mannheim to Cologne, thereby showing that childhood cancer survivors can perform at maximum levels just like their peers without cancer histories and giving hope to those who are still fighting the battle. As a yearly campaign of the German Childhood Cancer Foundation over the last 16 years, the Rainbow tour's motto is encouragement, information and awareness. The rainbow warriors traditionally stop at children's hospitals to visit young patients and their families on the cancer wards. Their main goal is to demonstrate: 'You can make it, just like we did!'. Dealing with cancer is often characterised by fear, denial and uncertainty. Especially young patients are feeling the effects - be it at school, among friends or later in the professional life. A lot of education is still required in this respect,' explains Jens Kort, managing director of the organisation and DIRECT project partner.
A hard cover book entitled 'Of mountaineers and Rainbow tour riders' was produced to give confidence and hope to children and adolescents with cancer as well as their families and friends. The book is used by Austrian and German patient organisations and distributed by survivors at paediatric cancer wards. In addition to the book, a 27-minute film was produced presenting all of the five days of the Grossglockner adventure tour.
In collaboration with the DIRECT project partner Pammer Film, the team produced a documentary entitled 'Little heroes - great opportunities. Childhood cancer research in Europe'. The aim in producing this film was to communicate the strong link between private and public funding of childhood cancer research, which makes improved and new treatment options available and the growing number of European children and teenagers who have overcome cancer. Despite many positive aspects, the film clearly demonstrates the need for continual funding of childhood cancer research and presents current obstacles that have to be overcome scientifically, politically and within our society to reach total cure and care for young patients with cancer.
To illustrate the efficient treatments currently available to European children and adolescents with cancer, pass on hope, trust and courage to young cancer patients being currently under treatment and foster public awareness of the necessities in providing clinical, psychological and psychosocial cure for childhood cancer patients and survivors in future, the DIRECT project team organised two activities in Austria and Germany which both have been given extensive media coverage.
On 6 September 2009, eight young childhood cancer survivors from Austria, Germany and Poland aged seventeen to thirty-six undertook a five-day adventure to Austria's highest peak. Accompanied by DIRECT project representatives from St. Anna Children's Hospital and Children's Cancer Research Institute, an outdoor psychologist, a professional film team and mountain guides, they overcame all dangers and hurdles, such as ice fields and fixed rope routes, and made it right to the Grossglockner top at 3 798 meters.
The coordinating mountain guide was highly impressed: 'These young people display an incredible inner strength, determination and endurance.' 'I am trying to use what I have learned as a result of my cancer in everyday life, such as stamina, perseverance and hopefulness. This way at least I did not go through all this in vain,' explained Lisbeth, the youngest alpinist of the group.
During the eight-day Rainbow tour, the participants - forty childhood cancer survivors - left 600 kilometers behind them as they cycled from Mannheim to Cologne, thereby showing that childhood cancer survivors can perform at maximum levels just like their peers without cancer histories and giving hope to those who are still fighting the battle. As a yearly campaign of the German Childhood Cancer Foundation over the last 16 years, the Rainbow tour's motto is encouragement, information and awareness. The rainbow warriors traditionally stop at children's hospitals to visit young patients and their families on the cancer wards. Their main goal is to demonstrate: 'You can make it, just like we did!'. Dealing with cancer is often characterised by fear, denial and uncertainty. Especially young patients are feeling the effects - be it at school, among friends or later in the professional life. A lot of education is still required in this respect,' explains Jens Kort, managing director of the organisation and DIRECT project partner.
A hard cover book entitled 'Of mountaineers and Rainbow tour riders' was produced to give confidence and hope to children and adolescents with cancer as well as their families and friends. The book is used by Austrian and German patient organisations and distributed by survivors at paediatric cancer wards. In addition to the book, a 27-minute film was produced presenting all of the five days of the Grossglockner adventure tour.
In collaboration with the DIRECT project partner Pammer Film, the team produced a documentary entitled 'Little heroes - great opportunities. Childhood cancer research in Europe'. The aim in producing this film was to communicate the strong link between private and public funding of childhood cancer research, which makes improved and new treatment options available and the growing number of European children and teenagers who have overcome cancer. Despite many positive aspects, the film clearly demonstrates the need for continual funding of childhood cancer research and presents current obstacles that have to be overcome scientifically, politically and within our society to reach total cure and care for young patients with cancer.
