The Eastern Quebec Cancer Association (ACEQ) is proud to announce the launch of a new service: the comfort kit.
It will be given to people who are starting intravenous chemotherapy or immunotherapy at oncology clinics in Eastern Quebec. More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and many are in need of these treatments.
The comfort kit brings warmth and well-being to people who must spend long days at the hospital, away from the comforts of home. It contains various objects such as a soft and comfortable blanket, a gourd adapted to their needs, a notebook of mandalas and pencils, a box of mints, a notebook and a pencil, and a map of hope made by students from the region.
By handing out these comfort kits, the Association wishes to pose a gesture of closeness by reaching out to the people of Eastern Quebec during their first day of treatment. This comfort kit is added to many of the other outreach services offered by the Eastern Quebec Cancer Association (ACEQ) with the essential support of its volunteers, donors, partners and employees: accommodation, support, information and psychosocial support services which help them feel better physically and psychologically.
[…]
The origin of the comfort kit comes from the generosity and involvement of Mrs. Judy Martin. During her own chemotherapy treatments, Ms. Martin came up with the idea of handing out a kit to cancer patients at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) by creating the Bell Fund, in partnership with the Cedars Cancer Foundation and Cedars CanSupport: “I had been given a comfort kit from my sister and brought it with me to every treatment. I was always cold, and the blanket kept me warm. I am grateful to the team at the Eastern Quebec Cancer Association (ACEQ) and the Cedars Cancer Foundation that has helped spread the love to a region that is close to our family.”
[…]
In the photo (from left to right): Mr. Nelson Charette, Executive Director of the Eastern Quebec Cancer Association (ACEQ), Mr. Jeff Shamie, President and CEO of the Cedars Cancer Foundation from the McGill University Health Center,, Ms. Judy Martin, founder of the Bell Fund, Mr. François Lévesque, Bas St-Laurent Area Chief, Gaspésie at Molson Coors and representative of the Molson Foundation, and Mr. Daniel Bénéteau, President of l’Association du cancer de l’Est du Québec.
Translated from an article written by The Eastern Quebec Cancer Association (ACEQ).