One of Know-it-all passport's biggest fans, local mom, Nicole Scobie, has just launched her own battle against cancer by producing a new wall calendar for 2013, designed to raise money for children with cancer. All profits from sales of the calendar, which is priced at just Fr. 20.- (plus Fr. 2.- for postage), will go directly to two Swiss charities who work closely with families affected by childhood cancer: Force Fondation (www.forcefondation.ch) and ARFEC (www.arfec.ch).
The idea for the new wall calendar came a year after Nicole's own 5 year old son, Elliot, was diagnosed with cancer. Living away from her home country, Canada, and all the hands-on support one would normally expect from close relatives, Nicole's family began on a long, difficult journey, which saw Elliot spend much of his time in hospital, in the company of many other children, also bravely fighting the same battle.
Nicole told us, “Elliot was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney just over a year ago when he was 4 years old. We discovered the cancer one morning after Elliot's bath, I noticed a lump on his stomach and my instincts told me to bring him right away to our pediatrician in Rolle. She sent us to the Nyon hopsital for an ultrasound, which showed a 15cm tumour on his kidney, and we were then transferred to CHUV in Lausanne. After an intense year of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery to remove his kidney as well as the main tumour, and radiotherapy, we have now been told that he is in remission. His treatment finished on 2 July.”
She added, “However, in spite of everything we have been through, I would still consider ourselves lucky. Many children we met in hospital were not as fortunate as Elliot, because in some cases, there is still not enough known about how to treat their cancers. But there are some very promising research projects, happening right here in Switzerland, which could change all that. Unfortunately, these projects are underfunded and to move them along we need to act now. These kids can’t wait.”
The calendar will feature photos of a small handful of children, some of them expats, that Nicole has met during the last year, as a tribute to their strength and courage. To get an idea of the kind of life these children and their families must endure as they learn to fight the various symptoms of their condition, watch this small video created by Nicole at the end of Elliot’s treatment. Only then, can you truly appreciate what childhood cancer is all about.
To order a copy of the new A4-sized calendar please contact Nicole directly by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 079 208 61 10. The calendar will be mailed with a payment slip, including details on how to pay at the post office or via e-banking.
2013 Children's Cancer Calendar
Fr. 20.- + Fr. 2.- for postage
Nicole Scobie
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
079 208 61 10
