A gold ribbon cookie may be small, but throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, these handmade gifts have shown how a thoughtful gesture can open the door to meaningful conversations.
Following their visit to WA Parliament, CCRF’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Ribbon Cookies continued their reach at Perth Children’s Hospital, connecting the Foundation with families, clinicians, researchers and hospital teams across childhood cancer care.
With the generous help of Andy & Sam, Volunteer and Donation Services officers at PCH, CCRF Head of Development Michele Dalton delivered 190 cookies across Ward 1A, the paediatric oncology outpatient clinic, the survivorship clinic and the childhood cancer research teams based at Kids Institute Australia.
CCRF newsletters were also left at each location, sharing further information about the Foundation, the research we fund and our work supporting young people beyond childhood cancer.
Reaching families and staff on Ward 1A
The first delivery brought 100 cookies to Ward 1A, PCH’s paediatric oncology ward. Michele met the ward’s Clinical Nurse Manager and was invited to tour the ward. Boxes of cookies were left in each of the two family rooms, with more provided for staff in their break room.
For Michele, who has been worked with CCRF for 12 years, it was her first opportunity to visit the paediatric oncology ward at either PCH or the former Princess Margaret Hospital. The visit created a valuable personal connection with the people caring for children and families on the ward, and marked a positive step towards building a stronger and more visible relationship between CCRF and Ward 1A.
Extending the message across treatment and survivorship
The next stop was Clinic H, PCH’s paediatric oncology outpatient clinic, where a further 30 cookies and CCRF newsletters were delivered. Michele also met with Kerrie, the Clinical Nurse Specialist who runs the survivorship clinic, and provided another 30 cookies for children, young people and families attending the clinic the following week.
This delivery complements CCRF’s existing survivorship work, led by Program Manager and Advocate Noleen Ryan, and extended the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month message to young people and families navigating life after treatment.
Connecting with the research teams we support
The final 30 cookies were delivered to Emma Stone, General Manager of the Comprehensive Kids Cancer Centre, for the research teams based within Kids Institute Australia at PCH.
CCRF’s relationship with childhood cancer research in Western Australia spans 46 years. Delivering the cookies to the research teams was an opportunity to acknowledge that ongoing work, and share the wider Childhood Cancer Awareness Month initiative with people whose research CCRF and its supporters help make possible.
It also connected the activation back to its central purpose: keeping children affected by cancer and their families front of mind while building greater awareness and support for childhood cancer research.
Creating opportunities for connection
The awareness cookies were warmly received at every location, but their value extended beyond the gift itself. They provided a natural reason to visit the spaces connected to CCRF’s purpose, and strengthen relationships with people working across treatment, family support, survivorship and research.
Each individually packaged cookie included childhood cancer awareness information and a QR code inviting people to support research. Ingredients and allergy information were also clearly provided on the back of each card.
The cookies were created for CCRF by talented local small business owner and supporter Stacey Walton from By the Brook Creations, who to date has handmade 550 gold ribbon awareness cookies for the wider Childhood Cancer Awareness Month initiative. We are very grateful for the care, time and effort that has gone into these.
What began as a creative awareness idea, has become a genuine door opener. The cookies have helped CCRF begin new conversations, strengthen existing relationships and create further opportunities for connection with the people working closest to children and families affected by cancer.
Our sincere thanks go to Andy & Sam at PCH for helping make the visit possible, and to the clinical, hospital and research teams who welcomed CCRF so warmly.
Sometimes, meaningful relationships begin with something as simple as saying hello, and sharing a cookie.
