Africa has always been a major focus for Cancer Kids First due to the continent’s low childhood cancer survival rates, which are often the result of limited funding for research, insufficient medical treatment options, and a shortage of specialized care facilities. These barriers prevent many pediatric cancer patients from accessing the treatment they urgently need.
In South Africa, CKF has extended support through our Care Packages Program, assisting patients and their families with essential items and comfort gifts. Because of the high costs of international shipping, we have utilized online fundraising and donation platforms to provide families with direct financial aid, allowing them to purchase what their children need most.
During the most recent holiday season, CKF launched its first holiday gift campaign in Africa, ensuring that families who otherwise could not afford gifts were still able to celebrate with joy. Looking forward, CKF is raising funds to help establish the first pediatric cancer hospital in East South Africa and to sponsor the education of a child battling cancer. These efforts reflect our dual mission of meeting immediate needs while investing in sustainable, long-term change for pediatric cancer care in the region.
