Wednesday, August 23, 2006

'plagiarism' taken to new heights

Were you good at spelling as a child?
Even so, leukaemia, lymphoma, or heaven forbid,
Habdomyosarcoma would've been a challenge.
Even if you were a spelling bee.
Now imagine having to learb new words not in a school,
But in a hospital.
Just because you can't spell it doesn't mean you can ignore it.
Just because it's not in your vocabulary doesn't mean
It's not in you.

All you know is, it's something that makes you sick.
It makes grown-ups cry like children.

It makes children more grown-up than grown-ups.
Cancer can happen to any child.
Almost all types of cancer in children happen
Spontaneously, for no apparent reason.
Whether you've been bad or naughty or nice.
There's absolutely nothing a parent can do to prevent it.
The child is usually put on a combination of
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery for
At least one year. Hair will fall out.
School is also out; the risk of getting an infection
Is simply too high.
What happens then?

Repeat. Remission. Relapse. Repeat.
No wonder they say living with cancer can be worse
Than dying from cancer.
About 250,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year
Around the world.

But the truly appalling statistic here is, only one in five
Children receive adequate treatment.

We won't let that happen in Singapore,
Where half of all children with cancer are no older than six.
There is hope.
Most childhood cancers are curable. Especially with
A positive attitude and sheer determination.
A strong mind helps when the body is weak.
Many of our young patients do return to school.
(Where they learn the more conventional ABCs.)
The Children's Cancer Foundation has helped over 1100
Children and their families cope with cancer since 1992.

It is a non-profit organisation funded solely by the public
And well-meaning sponsors. The money is put
To providing emotional, financial and medical support.
You can make a donation of any amount at www.ccf.org.sg
Every dollar helps.
Everything we do, we do it for the children.
Nothing else.

We only want to help improve the lives of children
Living with cancer. Not their spelling.

(direct transcription from Tulip Hearts Day poster @ CSS Corner YIH)

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