CanTeen's Bandanna Week 15 - 21 October 2007

Take up the CanTeen Million Dollar Challenge!

Bandanna Week is a nationwide event and CanTeen is asking all of NZ to come onboard and take up the CanTeen Million Dollar Challenge. Join Boh Runga, The Morning Madhouse, Dan Carter and fashion label Federation (along with talented CanTeeners) who have helped by designing bandannas this year. These designs will all be for sale during Bandanna Week, 15 -21 October.

Bandanna Week is the major annual fundraising event for CanTeen, a national peer support network for young people age 13-24 yrs living with cancer. The bandanna became a symbol for CanTeen because many young people choose to wear them after losing their hair as a side effect to cancer treatments.

“After you meet CanTeen members you can’t help but be inspired by them and what CanTeen does to support young people living with cancer. Everyone can make a difference by buying a bandanna during Bandanna Week,” says rugby player Dan Carter.

CanTeen believes the best people to support young people living with cancer are their peers - those who ‘have been there done that’ or are going through similar experiences. Living with cancer is traumatic at any time, but even more so for young people that are already facing challenges of identity, independence, education, relationships, intimacy and employment.

Using Ministry of Health Statistics, CanTeen estimates there are currently 12,500 young people up to the age of 24 living with cancer, either as a patient or sibling. It is estimated that on average there are 354 eligible new CanTeen members each year.

“Since its inception, CanTeen has had a clear focus on the needs of young people living with cancer. CanTeen’s foundation was built upon the fundamental belief that young people, through meeting, talking and sharing their experiences, would be better able to cope with the uncertainties of living with cancer,” says CanTeen Brand Manager Jade Philips.

During Bandana Week CanTeen is also auctioning off some very special bandannas which have been signed by celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Donald Trump, Zach Braff, Orlando Bloom, Elle Macpherson, and Jonny Depp. These will be available for auction on www.trademe.co.nz as of 12th October.

By supporting CanTeen you are helping provide the following services for young people living with cancer:

The development and maintenance of support programs such as Good Grief, Teenlink and SAFE Talk (national initiatives set up to help members deal with the difficulties of living with cancer)
To fund clinical trials and research into adolescent cancer, as well as contributing to the 3 dedicated Adolescent Oncology nurses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
Additional resource to implement and manage programs for members throughout NZ
Recreational Activities – doing things like go-karting, paintballing, camps – activities to give a sense of normalcy and fun in what can be a stressful and scary time
Items to keep patients entertained such as Mobile phones/airtime so patients can keep in touch with family and friends, Magazines, iPod’s and laptops to relieve boredom


Make sure you buy your bandanna during Bandanna Week 15–21 October or
text to donate - TXT canteen to 883 to show your support for CanTeen 

Bandannas are available through Foodstuffs Stores: Pak n Save, New World, and Four Square, BP, ASB, Repco, Farmers, schools, street sellers and Shopping Malls for $4