Camille: More support needed for non-profit organisations

The Just Because Foundation is an incorporated, non-profit, Paediatric Cancer Support Organisation established by Noel and Chevaughn Joseph who, after a tenacious two-year battle, lost their 5 1/2 year old son, Jabez “JB” Joseph, to Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.

Yesterday, the foundation received over 100 care packages from the sports and youth club of the Planning and Development Ministry. The packages containing toiletries and other hygiene products, were presented during a simple ceremony at the playroom of the paediatric department at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

The packages will be given to patients, who range from infants to 16 years, who come in to the ward.

“I am pleased that I could be part of it. I really want to congratulate the family because they have made a disconcerted effort to keep this foundation going and they have done well. I call on corporate Trinidad and Tobago to assist them in any way that they can.

“I understand the pain of having a child diagnosed with cancer.

My child was 24 at the time, but she is still my child, so I understand the pain of that kind of diagnosis. It is heartening having gone through that, and unfortunate that they had to survive the death of a child, that they are willing to give back to other parents whose children are going through the harrowing experience of cancer,” Robinson-Regis said.

The minister said people need to play a greater role in assisting such organisations as cancer could ravage not only the actual victim, but also the family.

“It affects everybody differently and I think corporate TT needs to step up and assist the children, especially the children who are going through this because a number of children are here for years. Some children have been left here by their parents and that is sad. Even though the Government is doing its part, corporate TT can assist by providing whatever their needs may be to make sure that this kind of situation is easier for people,” she said.

While admitting that the ministry did not have anything in place at this time to assist organisations such as this, the minister said there were other things that ministries could do as they could assist in other ways.