Life is challenging for many right now – the pandemic has not only brought about great uncertainty but has also impacted many people’s lives, whether it be work and finances, separation from loved ones, physical isolation, juggling the usual responsibilities with kids at home. It’s hard for so many, but especially so for those living with cancera disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs and all its complications.
The Cancer Council have recently kicked off a #CancerKindness campaign, calling for people to lend a hand to those living with cancer during this pandemic. This has developed from a collaboration with The Kindness Pandemic, which is a movement underpinned by principles of Intersectional Kindness, looking out for people who are struggling or experiencing hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Campaign founder, Ayman Barbaresco, lived his whole life with cancer and was passionate about supporting others also living with the disease. He wanted to create a way of reaching out and connecting others through acts of kindness, particularly during these difficult pandemic months. He’s identified that “everyday kindness could be the difference between someone surviving and someone thriving”. Sadly, he died just before his campaign was launched.
His movement #CancerKindness lives on though, and it aims to highlight what people who are living with cancer and their carers are going through during this COVID-19 pandemic. The idea is to identify and share how you have shown an act of kindness to someone living with cancer, and share it on social media, either on your personal Facebook or Instagram pages with the hashtag #CancerKindness or in the Kindness Pandemic Facebook Group.
Acts of kindness can cover all sorts of simple and practical tasks that can really help someone affected by cancer. These can include things such as grocery shopping, a coffee run, medication collection, dropping off a meal, childcare assistance, help with household duties and cleaning, transport if needed, even just simply checking in to see how someone is going – both for cancer patients and their families.
This current period is certainly challenging for all of us, but especially so for those dealing with cancer at the same time. So now, more than ever is the time to touch base with those you know in this situation and reach out to help #CancerKindness.
By Dr Emily Isham