Projects Caring link - Oakleigh Monash leader
Children who are being treated for cancer in Monash are going wireless with new laptops to continue their schooling while in hospital, thanks to a Rotary Club fun run.Last year’s Kids Fun Run with Thomas, held annually in November at Puffing Billy Railway in Gembrook, raised $36,500 for the Monash Children’s Cancer Centre’s Classroom to Bedside project.
The project aims to give sick children some routine throughout their treatment, in allowing them to continue their school work during their stay in the Clayton hospital.
Cancer centre head Peter Downie said laptops and wireless internet connections would give young patients a more positive experience while they were at the centre.
‘‘Cancer has the ability to affect all of us in some way, and for children it can be a lot harder to deal with,’’ Dr Downie said.
‘‘ Allowing a child or teenager to continue at least one aspect of their life as normal as possible, their educational experience, is so important for their recovery and treatment experience.’’
The centre cares for more than 30 per cent of Victoria’s childhood cancer patients, with about 40 children receiving care daily.
The fun run, first held in 2002, was organised by the Rotary Club of Emerald, and president Ken Miller said the club was proud to put on an event that was fun for the family and also raised money for a good cause.
Dr Downie said he expected the new equipment to be in place before Easter.