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PAT supports Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Every day in the UK, 10 children and young people will hear the devasting news that they have cancer, and of those 10, two will not survive. Out of the others, many will have long-term side effects that may significantly impact their lives.

Thanks, though, to PAT Volunteers such as Sharon Stevenson, children living with cancer are able to spend time with a friendly dog and, for a little while at least, they can forget about their illness and just enjoy the company of a waggy-tailed chum.

Sharon, from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been a volunteer with Pets As Therapy for 18 months and makes regular visits to Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice. Through LATCH, the Welsh children’s cancer charity, they also visit the children’s cancer Rainbow Ward at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, situated on the site of the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

“I visit with my PAT Dog Acer,” Sharon smiles. “He’s a blue merle Border Collie and is three-and-a-half years old. Acer loves playing with children, and they adore him — he’s always got a soppy grin on his face and is a very patient, super-friendly, soft, fluffy teddy bear.

“Playing with a dog is so very different from playing with toys and it has a very positive impact on poorly children’s mental health,” Sharon continues. “There’s always lots of laughs when listening to funny stories about Acer. I think it’s a nice change for them to meet someone new — me — and have different conversations. I hope it takes their mind off their illness and treatment for a while.”

Patients’ parents and siblings also make a fuss of Acer. “Chatting with me about their own pets perhaps gives parents a little respite from worrying about their child. And brothers and sisters love hearing about Acer’s likes — carrot, apple and broccoli — and dislikes — being bathed and very loud fireworks. Acer also had to have a big operation himself when he was a puppy, although no one can ever find the scar under all his fur!”

Supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sharon says she loves volunteering with her dog and sharing Acer’s love with others. “I always leave Rainbow Ward feeling that Acer has brought a bit of joy and sunshine.”

Kelly Jordan from LATCH adds: “Everyone absolutely loves when Acer and Sharon come to visit LATCH and the children on Rainbow Ward. For many of the children and families LATCH support, the days can be very long and tedious. It’s beautiful to see faces light up with excitement and moods elevate when Acer arrives. Stress and anxiety levels certainly reduce when the PAT Team are around, which is wonderful. We very much believe that pet therapy makes such a positive impact on the children, it helps significantly with morale and provides a humble comfort.”

Help us share the love of our pets with children living with cancer. Donate to PAT

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