Expat Living Singapore – July 2019

LIFE & FAMILY

JULY 2019 77

How you can help

There are many ways to support LOVE, NILS,

such as partnering with them to raise awareness,

organising a programme at school, hosting a

fundraiser event or more.  Visit the website to

see how you can get involved. lovenils.org

and just going through the emotional fallout of
cancer. And so I launched LOVE, NILS, a registered
Singapore charity, to do just that. With 150 to 200
new cancer diagnoses every year in Singapore, there
is no shortage of ways to provide support to these
families.

How are you different than Ronald McDonald
House or some of the other organisations?
Ronald McDonald House provides four ensuite
bedrooms with a common living area for children and
their families being treated at the National University
Hospital (NUH). LOVE, NILS looks to fill in the
gaps by partnering with organisations, corporations,
serviced apartments and local families to offer home-
like spaces for families during and in
between cancer treatment. Our ultimate
goal is to raise enough money so that
we can lease apartments to make readily
available to these families.
We provide children with cancer and
their caregivers much needed healthcare
guidance and emotional care, plus social
and community support that will enable
them to thrive. We believe it takes a

It’s all an effort to keep

children and caregivers

socially engaged, hopeful and

resilient so they know they’re

not alone in the fight.

village to heal a child, which is why we organise

annual toy drops, offer tickets to fun events, hold

awareness talks, fund art therapy sessions, provide

tutors and more. It’s all an effort to keep children

with cancer and caregivers socially engaged, hopeful

and resilient. This way, they know they’re not alone

in the fight.

Was there an “Aha!” moment when you

realised the charity is making a difference?

I have had many moments like that, but the one

that really made me know I was on the right path

was during a toy drop at the NUH in-patient

cancer ward. One of the patients has been in and

out of hospital for treatment for two years and our

Star Wars 501st Legion team was handing him

toys to take home. The boy ran to me and gave

me hugs, kisses and thank-yous that just didn’t

stop – so much love!

I went home and cried that night. And I sent

my daughter a text: “After tireless and sleepless

nights of doing something I feel passionate about

for a long time, it comes to a point of, ‘Why am I

here?’ And then... then you get that kiss, the one

that knocks you to your knees and makes you

crumble. The one kiss that makes you understand

why you are doing what you are doing, no matter

what, and why you are alive! I got that today ten

times over from a four-year-old child with cancer.

I have finally found the answer to the big question

of life. I know what I am supposed to do here!”