A NATIONWIDE support group for young people who have or have had cancer, and for their brothers, sisters and friends, recently launched a short film/documentary to bust myths about their illness.
CanTeen, based at the Carmichael Centre in North Brunswick Street, made a film titled
‘Busting myths about young people and cancer’.
David Rawle and India Mullen, who star in
‘Moone Boy’ and
‘Red Rock’ respectively, attended the launch at the Irish Film Institute (IFI).
CanTeen members, in collaboration with Helium Arts & Children, produced the film.
Each year it is estimated that 200 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer. The aim of the short film/documentary is to show how the right support can make a world of difference to a teenager who might be feeling upset and alone.
CanTeen, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, currently has over 260 members, ranging in age from 12 to 25 years.
Throughout the year, it organises weekends away to various activity centres all over Ireland as well as trips to the UK to meet other young people with cancer.
It was founded in 1990 by a dedicated group of volunteers and has grown considerably over the years. It has no core funding and depends entirely on voluntary contributions.
Helium Arts is an arts and health organisation fostering a culture of creativity within Irish healthcare for children and young people through the development of participatory arts programmes in community, primary, and acute healthcare environments.
Its aim is to create positive experiences of hospital and healthcare settings for young people, to support a child-centred model of healthcare through the arts, and to innovate models of arts practice which give a creative voice to young people living with illness.
Since Helium Arts was founded in 2009, over 3,500 young people and their families have participated in its programmes.
To donate to CanTeen, text CanTeen to 50300 and for further information, visit www.canteen.ie or join CanTeen on Facebook