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Giving children with
cancer a place where they
can be kids
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BD associates have long been active in the fight against cancer.
Seeing an unmet need, BD associates in Germany spearheaded
an effort to help the disease’s most vulnerable victims – children.
Though chances for survival are favorable in childhood cancer,
the children suffer tremendously. They are also unequipped to
deal with the fear, confusion and loss of self-confidence that can
accompany cancer diagnosis and treatment. Giving children a
renewed sense of self-worth and helping them cope with their
illness is the mission of Die Waldpiraten, or Forest Pirates, founded
through BD volunteer efforts in conjunction with Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung, the German Foundation for Children with Cancer.
BD in Germany/Switzerland/Austria (GSA) has been the camp’s leading corporate sponsor since 1999–just a year after the idea of a camp for children with cancer was conceived. BD in GSA has contributed more than €500,000 (about $600,000) to the camp, and each year it sponsors two 10-day “Better Days Camps” at Die Waldpiraten. BD volunteers, specially trained to work with children suffering from cancer, help staff both Better Days Camps. In addition, BD associates raise additional funds by selling T-shirts and caps, and BD in Germany sends camp Christmas cards as its holiday greeting. Birgit Bergdoll, training and development manager for BD in GSA, says the Company’s strong relationship with the camp’s staff, financial contributions and volunteer efforts are spurring other companies to become involved with the camp, improve its facilities and, possibly, provide the resources to operate year-round (as opposed to the present April to November calendar).
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