Candlelighters Canada will raise funds to help families living with childhood cancer cope with the added financial burden that they must face after diagnosis. At the moment Family Assistance is on a "case by case" basis, but as funds continue to be raised, the program will become more accessible. The length and demands of treatment necessitate one parent remaining home with the child. Often, that means one parent must stop working. With only one income, families often have to struggle with the cost of transportation to and from the treatment centre, tutoring of the child who is too sick to attend school, sustaining their mortgage, and general living expenses. A family will spend 25% to 30% of their income after taxes on non-medical out-of-pocket expenses related to the child with cancer.
When a child or teen is diagnosed with cancer, parents experience an overwhelming loss of strength, stability and hope for the future. With the Family Assistance Program, families can focus their energy on the support of their sick child as well as supporting the other children and family members through this very traumatizing period of their lives.
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