There are many cancer related organisations, some are even split into different types of cancer support eg, breast cancer, leukaemia, bowel cancer etc.

I have quickly jumped around a few of this organisation websites and they pretty much all have their own donation options available to anyone who would like to donate to their cause.  Some have online donations available, others you have to print a form out & donate off-line.  So if you have spare cash and want to help out, but unsure how.  Donations are defiantly a nice touch.

Where does your donation go?

You donation goes into a pool of money, which the organisation can then use as it so desires.  This money is used for administration costs usually, which means they pay staff to keep the organisation running.  Any excess is then pooled and distributed out into different areas.  For example:

• Research - looking for cures, studying causes, pharmaceutical relief & assistance
• Support - counselling & support groups (these may have their own donation system)
• Documentation - website & brochures, general information and shared resources of their findings & other peoples experiences
• Consumables - in some cases people donate gifts and handy items that assist with daily requirements, these could be clothing, or hospital bags, blankets, toiletries & other sundry type items that get handed out to people affected by cancer
• Subsidies - usually this is done by the government, where they subsidise specific pharmaceutical drugs required for the treatments or services required for treating cancer related illnesses, but for countries which do not subsidise the organisation will normally provide this subsidy
• Cash Support - often organisations use donations to help out those in need, and can actually pass on actual money to a cancer sufferer to help out with bills or to go have a night out for fun (unwind)

How else can I help?

There are usually support groups or services provided and organised by the different cancer organisations which allow every day people to help out.  This might be, supporting a family by doing house work, applying make-up, or any other way you can donate your own personal time to help and support in many other ways.

If you are seriously interested in helping out in person, ring up your preferred organisation and ask them how you can make a difference. You might have a special skill which sufferers of cancer might need.  It could be entertaining, coming in and just spending time with people, helping around the house, driving people around etc.

I have a business which might be able to provide a service

Great, I am certain some organisations could really use your help.  Cancer Society NZ has a service called ‘Look good, Feel better’ which cancer patients can go to and get a make-over (applied by volunteers) & then are supplied actual make-up by a major cosmetics company (all donated for free).  Each person who goes gets approximately $200 worth of FREE make-up.  They also get to meet others like themselves and share experiences.  This is very popular, and this has helped many cancer sufferers all over NZ.

So if you have a service, or products that can make someone smile, or their life that little bit easier.  And you have the resources or ability to supply this for free.  Then I am certain that these organisations would love to hear from you.

Thanks

Thanks for taking the time to read this page, and I hope it helps you understand a little more about donating, and how you can help out in many different ways.