(VOVworld) - As Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year is just around the corner, many volunteer groups in Hanoi have launched activities in the hope of bringing people a festival of joy. Those activities become even more meaningful for the children who never get a day off from fighting cancer. With the hope of bringing a little happiness to those children and give them sufficient hope to fight the disease, the “Making dreams come true” volunteer group, in partnership with other volunteer groups in Hanoi held a show named “Love Spring” at the Hanoi Children’s Palace, 36 Ly Thai To Street.  VOV Viet Anh reports. 

Despite the chilly temperatures, at 8am, the front yard of the Hanoi Children’s Palace was already packed with people. Everyone was eager to hear the art performances including singing, dancing, and magic shows performed by both professional artists and children with cancer alike. For the kids who spend countless hours on motorbikes traveling to and from hospitals and for the kids who are stuck in their rooms while receiving cancer treatment, the event could be a great source of inspiration for them to fight their disease. 

Voice insert 1: em minh - “ This is the second time I took part in this program. It’s very happy here. 

Voice insert 2: I come here with many “sisters” from the volunteer group. I feel really happy because I have a lot of friends around and the volunteers love us a lot.   

Everyone was eager to hear the art performances including singing, dancing, and magic shows performed by both professional artists and children with cancer (Source: Tuoitre.vn)

Phan Thi Ngoc Anh from Smile Volunteer group said those activities helped her understand the patients’ feelings, gain life experience, and learn how to give and receive love. “This is the first time I’ve been with those little patients in a show like this. I felt both happy and nervous practicing with them as we prepared for the performances today. Even though the cancer medicines’ side effects cause them to feel tired sometime; those kids still wanted to participate in the performances and did their best. Art can bring a smile to anyone’s face, and I love how those kids light up when they see the performances made just for them” 

Despite the chilly ưeather, at 8am, the front yard of the Hanoi Children’s Palace was already packed with people (Source: Chapcanhuocmo.net)

When spring comes, it seems to be the hardest time for those young patients because they must stay in hospitals instead of going out and enjoying the Tet atmosphere. Performing in the show and feeling special when standing in front of a massive crowd is something that makes a big difference to the kids as they go through treatment. Kieu Anh, the Making dreams come true volunteer group’s head of communications, said: ““Love Spring”, which is one of our group’s biggest programs, is held annually prior to the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. At this event, we award gifts and scholarships to children who are suffering from cancer in the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and Tan Trieu Cancer hospital. When the music show ends, we return to the hospitals to give gifts at the patients’ sickbeds as there are several kids who are so weak that they can’t even go out.  Having cancer is stressful for everyone involved, especially kids. That’s also the reason why our group focuses on children who are battling cancer as we want to be a part of the support system to help them find hope and joy, and live with a positive attitude.”

When the music show ends, we return to the hospitals to give gifts at the patients’ sickbeds as there are several kids who are so weak that they can’t even go out (Source: Chapcanhuocmo.net)

For these little patients, who got cancer at such a young age, they even don't understand why they have needles in their arms and have to take blood transfusions and endure pain everyday, the care and love from family members and society can have a big impact on their progress. Activities like these seem to temporarily reduce the pain the children have to suffer during treatment. Mrs Tran Thi Nam from Thai Nguyen province is the grandmother of a young cancer patient. She says, while her eyes brim with tears. “I come here with my little grand daughter, who is suffering from cancer. I’m deeply moved because of how much care and love those volunteers have shown to my daughter as well as other sick children, which gives me more strength and belief in my grand daughter’s progress. I want to say thank you for the words of encouragement and support, which helps to ease those kids’ pains.” 

For these little patients, who got cancer at such a young age, the care and love from family members and society can have a big impact on their progress (Source: chapcanhuocmo.net)

Activities like these seem to temporarily reduce the pain the children have to suffer during treatment (Source: Chapcanhuocmo.net)

Do Minh Duc is a cancer patient from Hai Duong province. Even facing cancer at a very young age, he still laughed freely about refusing to let the cancer stop him from enjoying life. He shared:  “I’m very happy today. We are entertained with music, dance performances, and magic shows alike. While in the hospital, we participated in many activities held by volunteer groups, which are great fun, especially the show on Christmas day.  This Tet, the hospital will allow me to go back home for a few days. I plan to out to play with some of my best friends.”

 Apart from the Lunar New Year festival, the Making dreams come true group’s members have been investing their time and passion helping out those little cancer patients at the hospital in the hope that they can stay strong during their treatment, quickly recover and return home soon. Kieu Anh again:“Apart from the “Lovely spring” program, we also hold various weekly and monthly activities including arts and crafts, book reading, toy making, and so on. At the end of the month, we often show films and celebrate mass birthday parties for those children. This Tet, we planed to raise funds by selling products like lucky envelops, notebooks, Tet calendars, in which we scan the paintings by the kids. A play room with a black board, book shelves, and toys for the cancer kids in the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics is scheduled to be built soon. By doing so, we hope that we can bring school closer to those kids, as some have to spend months, or even years in the hospital.” 

Apart from the “Lovely spring” program, the group hold various weekly and monthly activities including arts and crafts, book reading, toy making, and so on. At the end of the month, they often show films and celebrate mass birthday parties for those cancer children (Source: chapcanhuocmo.net)

For those children, contracting cancer is not like ending life in a locked maze, seeing only a gloomy tunnel ahead. Love is all around, and we all believe that darkness was born not to frighten us, darkness was born so that you could seek out that ray of hope. These children with cancer deserve to be strong and healthy and, together, we can make this happen. If you want to join hands to help those children with cancer, please head to: chapcanhuocmo.net.vn or Facebook: chapcanhuocmo