Download in het Engels - Kom op tegen Kanker

Editorial campaign material Kom op tegen Kanker
(These texts can be used in publications {leaflets, brochures and websites} by
activists working for Kom op tegen Kanker.)
What is Kom op tegen Kanker?
Kom op tegen Kanker (‘join forces against cancer’) is a defender of peoples’
rights and interests: the right of patients to benefit from the best treatment
and care and the right of people to have a vital and healthy environment. This is
achieved by a four-pronged approach: psychosocial care, research, information
and prevention, and lobbying. Kom op tegen Kanker is intensely committed to
these activities in order to avoid cancer developing, to attenuate the disease and,
as an end goal, to combat it on all fronts.
Fortunately, Kom op tegen Kanker is not alone in endeavouring to reach these
goals. For more than 25 years, the organisation has been able to count on the
generosity of people in Flanders. They provide donations and legacies, as well
as participating in actions, on a small and large scale. In the first instance,
there are actions which Kom op tegen Kanker organises every year: the 1,000
km for Kom op tegen Kanker in the spring and the ‘Plantjesweekend’ (‘Plants
Weekend’) in the autumn. In addition, there are numerous local actions which
take place all over Flanders, organised by activists at their own initiative.
The VRT (Flemish radio and television) also supports Kom op tegen Kanker by
broadcasting its major biennial TV show on the Eén channel.
What is 1000 km for Kom op tegen Kanker?
Cycling to combat cancer together with thousands of other like-minded people
for a period of four days: that is the 1,000 km for Kom op tegen Kanker! The
total distance is spread over eight stages of 125 km each, thus two stages per
day. This is covered by a small group of cyclists with one member of the team
cycling for one stage. If you are the only member of your team, you have to
cycle the eight stages. If there are several team members, you can share the
stages among the members of the team. Each team is composed of a maximum
of eight cyclists.
In order to participate in the 1,000 km, the team has to collect 5,000 euro.
Every year, the net profits of the four cycling days are donated to scientific
research into cancer. During previous events of the 1,000 km, we were able to
fund research into biomarkers (a very rapid way of seeing whether a treatment is
working or not), improved treatment for rare tumours, side-effects of cancer
treatments, and strategies for organ treatment and tissue preservation.
The net profits from the 2016 event will be donated in their entirety to research
into combination therapies. The number of cancer treatments is increasing.
Therefore, in the near future, the major challenge will be to discover how to
combine treatments better, i.e. immunotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug
treatment and hormonal treatment, or to ascertain in which order these
treatments should be administered. In addition, there is the need to know how
these treatments can be combined most advantageously with local treatments
(radiotherapy, surgery).
For more information, consult the website: www.1000km.be
What happens to the donations and money collected?
The money collected is destined to aid many different initiatives aimed at
reducing the number of people affected by cancer and which offer patients a
better chance of a cure as well as better quality care.
In 2014, Kom op tegen Kanker allocated considerable sums to scientific research
into patient-oriented innovative projects. Moreover, significant investment was
also devoted to psychosocial care. Kom op tegen Kanker is also involved in
training volunteers who visit cancer patients, supporting groups of companions in
misfortune, palliative care, and ensuring the successful operation of the
Kankerlijn help-line. The Kankerfonds fund ensures that cancer patients in the
lower income bracket also have guaranteed access to care. Finally, funds are
invested in information and prevention initiatives as well as lobbying.
Detailed information can be found on the website:
www.komoptegenkanker.be/uw-geld-goed-besteed
Preface by Frank Deboosere
Dear friend of Kom op tegen Kanker,
Cycling 1,000 km, selling azaleas throughout the weekend – we can certainly say
that our activists make every effort they can to support Kom op tegen Kanker.
Little by little, these well known actions carried out at a national level have
become our visiting card.
In addition, there are many more initiatives which, like this action, start off in the
street, beneath the church bells, or simply as a result of a few people getting
together.
Every action contributes to enlarging Kom op tegen Kanker’s kitty, thereby
increasing the amount that can be donated to cancer research and to a better
quality of service for patients.
I would like to thank the activists for their great ideas and their perseverance,
and I would like to thank all of you, friends of our organisation, for your support.
Frank Deboosere
President
Kom op tegen Kanker