Cancer Ward Visit Club - Awareness Campaign ‘Movember’

What is our inspiration?

Every week a group of volunteer students visit the Children’s Cancer Ward at the Oncology Hospital, Binh Tan District. Based on their experience at the hospital, the Cancer Ward Visit Club decided to grasp hold of the Movember idea, which is supported globally, and to support it here in Vietnam.
 
What is it?
The Movember campaign is an annual moustache growing event which last for the whole month of November, with the aim of raising awareness for male-related cancers, including prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Starting in Australia in 2003, the event has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon with participants from around the globe growing their facial hair to encourage men to be more cautious and have regular medical examinations.
 
What are the global aims?
The main aim of the ‘Movember Foundation’ in organising the annual Movember event is to “change the face of men’s health” by promoting methods for early cancer detection, treatment, and to seek a healthier lifestyle all with the aim of diminishing preventable deaths. Throughout the event, men are encouraged to get annual appraisals and to become aware of any cases of cancer in their family history.
 
What are our local aims?
The primary aim in the BIS Movember campaign is not simply to raise money. On the contrary, the aim is to raise awareness about cancer in general and increase interest in assisting the  Thuy’s Dream Charity. We want the students of the British International School to understand the fundamental  dangers of cancer and to be aware of the damage it does to a person and their families so that hopefully, they too will develop a willingness to assist others in need.  This message is not solely intended for the students of BIS, we hope that it will go home with them and spread the message to the greater community. Through this whole-school activity, we aim to inspire greater understanding of cancer prevention, promote the importance of assisting others, and help Thuy’s Dream become a reality.
 
About Thuy’s Dream
Le Thanh Thuy was a childhood cancer victim who underwent three surgeries yet still succumbed to cancer and died before her 20th birthday. Nevertheless, she continued to devote her time and energy to helping make life better for other patients in her hospital ward. In addition to organising donations of toys and clothes for the children, Thuy also helped channel financial donations to families of the children to help with the cost of treatment and travel so as to allow frequent visits to the hospital. Recently, Thuy's Dream Charity has helped pay for many patients to travel safely back to their homes in the central and highland parts of Vietnam, so they can have the rare opportunity of spending Tet with their families.
 
Why are WE doing it?
As part of our extra-curricular activities programme, staff, students and parents from BIS have been working with Thuy's Dream. This local charity works with children diagnosed with cancer and attempts to brighten their lives as they undergo treatment. This month, we saw the global Movember event as an excellent opportunity to associate the two and further increase the awareness of cancer within our school community through the growing of moustaches. Instead of just raising awareness of male cancers, however, we chose to focus on cancer as a whole. By linking with Thuy’s Dream Charity, our students feel that their effort and donations have contributed not only towards improving the quality of life of a child, but the life of their family members who suffer equally.
 

How are WE doing it?

This year, BIS teachers took part in the Movember campaign by growing their facial hair. Assemblies were planned and performed in order to educate the students.  Our aim was to raise awareness of the campaign and to raise funds for Thuy's Dream in an interesting and student-friendly fashion. These activities ranged from sponsored voting, purchasing specially-prepared fake moustaches, competitions and an auction to win the right to shave a teacher.
 
The results?
As a result of all our hard work and the contributions of the whole school, we have raised an astonishing VND18,259,500.  Congratulations to  all those involved! The bulk of the money was made from the success of the shave-off auction. Hosted in the undercroft of the BIS AP2 campus by the charismatic Mr Astley, the crowd that gathered was ecstatic to get the auction underway. The biggest targets for auction were Mr Pollicutt, Mr Perera and Mr Sherry. The highest fee paid for the right to shave off was 1.5million for Mr Sherry’s goatee! A courageous and possibly regrettable, decision by Mr Perera to auction the right to shave his head, went for a bid of VND650,000. The afternoon created an atmosphere of excitement, enjoyment and overall great fun highlighted by the cheering and laughter from students and staff alike.

 

Michelle Lim and Nicolas Koh Year 12