The Courage, Compassion and Commitment Foundation (CCC) that has been raising funds to help children with cancer and their carers at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama since 2003, marked an important milestone when they laid the foundation stone for the CCC House on June 26.

The foundation stone laying ceremony

The CCC House, a 140-bed transit home for underprivileged cancer outpatients and their carers is being built at a cost of Rs. 130 million and is estimated to be completed in two years.

The CCC works with its partners the Royal Children's Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne to implement the best oncology treatment and care at the NCI. So far the CCC has part funded a children's ICU and a 14 bed ward at the NCI.

The NCI has approximately 850 patients, but only 650 beds. NCI Director Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne says that approximately 25% of patients are outpatients who cannot afford accommodation or the long distance travel from their homes. Therefore they have no option but to stay in the hospital resulting in further overcrowding.

A transit home within the hospital grounds would thus benefit such outpatients facilitating recovery in more homely surroundings and allow medical staff to focus on the critically ill and new patients at the NCI.

"As anyone who is unfortunate enough to have cancer, or see their closest friend or family member go through the experience will know, it's bad enough, let alone not having the basic comforts that we all deserve," says Jetha Devapura, founder and Chiarman of the CCC.

Individuals and companies are invited to contribute to the CCC's efforts. For more information and donations, please contact Kamilka Perera on 0777675708 or see www.cccfoundation.org.au