CHOC Lodge in Port Elizabeth to accommodate mothers of childhood cancer patients

The Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) has opened the CHOC Lodge at Dora Nginza Hospital - for mothers of cancer patients who are admitted into the Oncology wards.  CHOC was the beneficiary to both the 2012 Discovery Algoa FM Big Walk and the 2012 Urban Run and used these funds to get the project off the ground. 

“Previously parents had to wait in the cold early morning, from as early as 04h00 for the hospital to open to ensure that they are first in the queue to get treatment otherwise they had no transport fees to go home and return the next day for a subsequent visit to the doctor upon request.  Now the parents and the children have facilities available at the hospital when they require it”, says Branch Manager of CHOC PE, Charmaine Vosloo.

The CHOC Lodge on the second floor of Building K at Dora Nginza Hospital can accommodate 11 teenagers and their moms along with 16 toddlers and their moms complete with kitchen, laundry, entertainment and bathroom facilities.  For the security and comfort of the parents there will be a lodge manager on duty 24/7 along with a relief manager.  The units are equipped with burglar guards and a hall has been cleared where parents can access the CHOC ward without going outside of the hospital.  This hallway is equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of the parents and their children.

“Although the lodge is off the ground now, they still require almost half a million rand just to maintain the lodge annually.  For this reason we have decided to make CHOC PE the beneficiary for the 2013 Discovery Algoa FM Big Walk”, says Managing Director of Algoa FM, Dave Tiltmann.

Jody Foster, Head of Sponsorships at Discovery said, “We are cognisant of our responsibility to the broader society and our ability to impact positively on the lives of people beyond our members. With this in mind, we are humbled and proud to play a role in the creation of the CHOC Lodge” .

The walk is taking place on Saturday, 26 October 2013 at the NMMU Cricket Fields in 2nd Avenue, Summerstrand, including a 4km and 8km walk.