Since it’s not entirely possible to eradicate all forms of marginalization and polarization from the world despite all the efforts, and even if it were, things still don’t turn out as we wish, it’s crucial to keep children at the forefront, who should be kept farthest away from polarizing narratives and distrust. The best interest of the child always comes first. This is the narrative of all projects related to children by Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu.

Looking at a global scale, while over 80% of children with cancer in high-income countries are successfully treated, the recovery rate in low and middle-income countries is only about 20%. Apart from genetic factors, cancer, with evidence-based strategies for prevention, screening, early diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care, can be preventable and controllable to a certain extent. Among the most common modifiable risk factors for cancer, shared with many other non-communicable diseases, are tobacco use, low intake of fruits and vegetables, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, air and chemical pollution, and depletion of the ozone layer.

Raising awareness about stem cell and blood donation can represent just a few of the many efforts to be made. There are many things that can be said about raising awareness on cancer, its prevention, early diagnosis, overcoming treatment challenges, or creating the necessary resources for diagnosis and treatment, especially on World Cancer Day.

Among these, there are also childhood cancers, which have completely different characteristics. Childhood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, bone tumors, kidney tumors, adrenal gland tumors, soft tissue tumors, eye tumors originating from germ cells, and liver tumors require challenging struggles not only for the sick children themselves but also for their siblings and parents. However, they are not alone in these struggles, because there are those who reach out to them, saying “you are not alone” in this world, such as the Lions Club.

The Lions Club, with the support of its sponsors addressing various material and spiritual needs through various activities, continues to take successful steps towards raising awareness about childhood cancer in the public eye, just as it has in the past.

In various fields of expertise, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu has contributed and continues to contribute to numerous social responsibility projects that promote world peace, the preservation of nature and all living beings, education, cultural diversity, healthy and active living, energy efficiency, sustainability, the best interests of children, and inclusivity. She considers her Chi Ci Talks interview program, named after herself, as a stage in her efforts in this direction.

In line with this, last month, under the auspices of Lions and within its organization, they conducted a Chi Ci Talks interview where they discussed topics such as these.

Deniz Molu, Chair of the Lions Club 118 Y Childhood Cancers Committee, and Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu aimed to raise awareness on this sensitive issue through the Cigdem Yorgancioglu Chi Ci Talks Interview held at Kilercibaşı Köşk with guests and accredited press in attendance. The video of the interview, which took place at Kilercibaşı Köşk, is available here

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, under the theme of the Lions Club 118 Y Anatolian Side Clubs’ Term Activities 2023-2024, a “Childhood Cancer Awareness Meeting” was held by the Lions Club on February 5, 2024. During the meeting, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, the Lions Club’s External Project Support Volunteer, spoke about the importance of the social responsibility projects she has initiated, participated in, or planned with various countries and local governments, universities, NGOs, or individually across different continents in the fight against cancer. She also highlighted how her paths intersect with the Lions family’s goals and projects in this regard.

Moreover, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu emphasized the significance of collaborating with civil society organizations on projects related to childhood cancer within the framework of Lions cooperation. She focused on the intellectual basis of engaging in and contributing to the tangible outcomes of these projects. For instance, she mentioned her involvement in projects such as the collaboration between Lions and LÖSEV (Foundation for Children with Leukemia) as exemplifying this collaboration.

Before the meeting, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, as a project volunteer, also attended the cocktail reception, where she congratulated the Lions family on their collective consciousness. During the reception, she conveyed greetings from the KAÇUV Foundation and LÖSEV families, organizations with which she personally works and with which Lions collaborates and shows solidarity, based on her morning speeches.

In the meeting chaired by Deniz Molu, Chair of the Lions 118 Y Childhood Cancer Committee, he expressed gratitude to everyone involved, stating, “As the Childhood Cancer Committee, in our second-term meeting, we continued by compiling a list of what we have done so far and what we will do in the future. I am grateful to everyone who contributed. To exist and to share unity should be like this.”

Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu is also a volunteer for the KAÇUV and LÖSEV projects related to childhood cancers. She is actively involved in projects that will include these NGOs, and she continues her work intensively towards the activities planned for the week of February 15th.