Monies raised by the Ponting Foundation will benefit a myriad of children and their families. The current beneficiary of the Ponting Foundation’s fundraising and income generating activities is Redkite.
Redkite
Redkite is an Australian charity that supports children, young people and their families through their experiences with cancer by providing emotional guidance, financial assistance and educational services.
Its vision is to ensure that every child and young person diagnosed with cancer in Australia is empowered to cope with the emotional, social and practical consequences.
Redkite’s philosophy is to give a child or young person the best possible chance of surviving cancer, the whole family needs to be supported. By alleviating the financial and emotional anxieties, families can focus their attention where it is needed most – on their sick child.
Redkite is there for families from the moment a child is diagnosed, throughout the treatment period and beyond and is known by families as providing the ‘must haves’ through the cancer journey. The different types of support provided to children with cancer and their families include:
- Financial support – Assistance with essential expenses such as car expenses and travel, food, accommodation near hospitals and household expenses. Financial counselling is also available in some states to assist families manage the ongoing impact of cancer on their financial situation
- Emotional services – Funding of professional counselling and social work services, sibling support, ‘Red Bag’ diagnosis kits and ‘late effects’ support
- Educational services – Grants for tutoring and other educational needs and education scholarships
- Music therapy – Provided by professionally qualified Music Therapists
- Family support – Family days and events
- Bereavements support – Professional counselling grants and assistance with funeral expenses
- Community based services – Telephone and email support, Redkite Telegroups
Redkite receives no government funding but with the continuing support of the community aims to further expand service reach and capacity so all children and young people with cancer receive the support they need. For more information on Redkite please visit their website - www.redkite.org.au