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Kristy Giteau was in isolation with her daughter Ka’ili in Sydney Children’s Hospital in 2020 when it dawned on her that she would have to leave her sick little girl to go and find some dinner.Ka’ili was fighting a rare childhood cancer for the second time, and Kristy and Ka’ili were in a room of the high-risk oncology unit alone. It was too dangerous for others to enter due to the risk of infection. If Kristy left, Ka’ili could wake up and find herself alone, without an advocate.<img alt="WTD Kristy and Ka&amp;#x27;ili" class="richtext-image full-width" height="467" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/WTD_Kristy_and_Kaili.width-800.jpg" width="800">“As an oncology parent, you spend every minute of every day in hospital,” Kristy says.“The patients of course are fed but carers get nothing. I kept questioning staff, social workers at the hospital: why don’t the carers get fed? Why aren’t we looking after the wellbeing of those caring for sick loved ones?“Because if they get sick, the patient has no-one.“And they really couldn&#x27;t give me answers. So I thought: it has to be better. We have to do better. I thought if I could help one family, that would make the world of difference.”<img alt="kaks with chemo barbie" class="richtext-image full-width" height="960" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/kaks_with_chemo_barbie.width-800.jpg" width="720">It was a simple idea, but one that Kristy felt incredibly passionate about. It gave her something to focus on while Ka’ili mostly slept after treatment. In June 2020, the ‘Win the Day’ charity officially launched, with a logo designed by Ka’ili and named after the Tai family’s mantra during their little girl’s cancer treatment.“I had the mindset in the hospital that the disease and the treatments she was receiving were out of our control, but what we could control as her parents, was ensuring she went to bed winning the day,” Kristy says.“It meant we consciously went out of our way to provide experiences that meant she went to bed smiling and looking forward to waking up the next morning.”<img alt="WTD Soki and Ka&amp;#x27;ili" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1000" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/WTD_Soki_and_Kaili.width-800.jpg" width="800">The charity was immediately embraced by the Queanbeyan community, where the Tai family lives. The Queanbeyan Whites — home to Kristy’s rugby-playing husband Soakai — ran an auction of signed first grade players jerseys’ and raised $50,000.More than three years on, the charity has raised around $1 million, assisting more than 140 families with the cost of food, accommodation, counselling and sadly, celebration of life costs.“Families shouldn’t have to worry whether they can afford to support their children through the biggest battle of their lives,” Kristy says.“They should be able to pack their bags – as we did – and leave their employment and life behind, as daunting and uncomfortable as that is, so they can be fully present with their sick child.”<img alt="WTD Back of jacket" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/WTD_Back_of_jacket.width-800.jpg" width="800">Win the Day is run exclusively by volunteers, including Kristy herself, who is the assistant principal of Queanbeyan South Primary School. The charity relies on people donating time and money to continue to assist those families who need it.Zango has been a proud supporter of Win the Day for two years, offering marketing support services free of charge.&quot;Ask any real estate agent what the most favourite part of their job is and you will undoubtedly hear them speak of ‘being there’ for new beginnings,” says Zango Marketing and Brand Manager Andrew Sherer.<img alt="DSC_0116" class="richtext-image full-width" height="529" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/DSC_0116.width-800.jpg" width="800">“Connecting people with new homes, full of new hopes and their own place to create new family memories.“Sometimes however, these hopes must be placed on hold to contend with the most unimaginable of challenges. This is where the work and passion of Kristy and her team at Win The Day is so important and so extraordinary.“Kristy, like no other, understands the positive uplift connected communities, neighbours and friends can bring in disconnected times and that the desire to reunite your family back under the one roof is what fuels your everyday.“Zango and Win The Day know that there’s no place like home. And since we also know that the Canberra &amp; Queanbeyan communities are the best place to raise a family, we’ll be there to support Kristy&#x27;s mission and Win The Day, day in, day out.”<img alt="IMG_6688" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_6688.width-800.jpg" width="800">With little Ka’ili in remission, and looking forward to Year 3 next year, Kristy will focus on vending machines in 2024.“We&#x27;re looking at a vending machine at Sydney Children’s Hospital where families can just help themselves,” Kristy says.“It&#x27;s not a paid thing. It would just be a refrigerated machine where the oncology parents can just walk up, push in their code and it spits out a meal without any payment required.“And of course we’ll continue to fundraise and raise awareness. It’s so important.”If you&#x27;d love to support Win the Day you can do so by donating, becoming a sponsor, buying merchandise or paying a meal forward. Head to the <a href="https://www.wintheday.org.au/copy-of-how-we-help" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Win the Day website</a> for more.

Meet the Googong mum tackling the wellbeing of oncology carers, one meal at a time

Recent events have certainly shown the importance of caring for each other as a community.There are many positive stories of how neighbours and even competing businesses are working together to help those who are more at risk, having to quarantine, or struggling to make ends meet during COVID.This hasn’t escaped our attention at Zango – as a locally owned business, doing right by our community is a value that’s near to our hearts. Many of the agents in the Zango network also feel the same; regularly swapping their logos to unite for fundraising efforts and to raise awareness for important local initiatives.Another way we do this is via our community partnership with <a href="https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.Hands Across Canberra is an independent community foundation which supports over 300 local not-for-profits such as Marymead, ACT Down Syndrome Association, ACT Pet Crisis Support, Doris Women’s Refuge, and Karinya House (to name a few).<img alt="Peter_Gordon_CEO.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="450" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Peter_Gordon_CEO.width-800.jpg" width="800">Peter Gordon, CEO of Hands Across Canberra, urges everyone to spare a thought for those who are less privileged within our own community.“We’re grateful that Zango’s agents are helping to broadcast our message which is to give where you live. Many people think everyone in Canberra is fine, and it’s simply not the case. For example, the fastest growing area of homelessness in the ACT is mature women experiencing family break up or domestic violence. The organisations we support provide emergency accommodation to ensure they don’t end up on the streets.<img alt="HAC_Region_Insert.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="530" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/HAC_Region_Insert.width-800.png" width="800">“Canberrans give an average $400 a year to charity. This is very generous, but almost all of it leaves Canberra. If everyone allocated just $10 to local causes then almost $4 million would be available to support homelessness, domestic violence, youth, and other vital local services. It takes a collective effort, but I believe we can achieve it.”Last year Zango helped Hands Across Canberra <a href="https://zango.com.au/news/world-homelessness-day-sees-zango-agents-turn-purple-for-a-good-cause/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">raise more than $10,000</a> to support World Homelessness Day which is approaching again next month.Peter hopes to surpass this amount during this year’s Hands Across Canberra fundraising efforts, which have already begun. Raising money ahead of time ensures we can allocate much-needed grants in October to local services offering crisis support.“In the past 18 months we’ve seen a huge increase in the need for emergency relief and mental health services. During any crisis, it’s the people who are already vulnerable who get hit the hardest.“Where able, I urge people to consider those who are less fortunate by giving back – even if it’s just $10. Our goal is to make it very easy to donate any amount and know that the money will stay right here in Canberra; helping your friends and neighbours get through tough times.”When you donate to Hands Across Canberra, you can select a one-off or recurring donation. You can also choose the charity you wish to give to, or donate to Hands Across Canberra which will allocate it where it’s currently needed most.To donate, please visit <a href="https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hands Across Canberra</a>.

2 news articles with tag charity

Meet the Googong mum tackling the wellbeing of oncology carers, one meal at a time

Stronger together: why we must support our friends and neighbours