Berlin 2008

KYTTARO Berlin 2008

Greek Survivors’ Association (kyttaro.greek@gmail.com, Facebook group)

The 1st Beginning Since 1990 a survivors’ group (NOT adults –about 15 persons) joined the parent group and participated in parents’ association activities such as events, congresses, celebrations, current patients’ visits and encouragement KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

Separate Paths 2 years ago the idea of a association was grown up, with the majority of these persons being 18+ “to live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong” KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

1 Aim- 2 Ways END OF 2006: Separation in 2 associations 1) Only children and adolescents (under 18) and their parents

2) Only adults survivors (18+) KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

9 month pregnancy 3 persons committed to run the procedures in order to be legally recognized: - to gather at least 21 signatures of survivors - to constitute a memorandum of the association - to make a fundamental statement of establishing this association (lawyer KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08 assistance)

Birth • Finally our association was “born” after a really short –for Greek realityperiod of legal procedures (1 month) in 31/12/2007 • According to our memorandum we had to do our 1st General Assembly in 3 months in our main town, Athens KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

infant named “KYTTARO” • “Kyttaro” means cell biological dimension metaphorical meaning: the very early beginning of something

KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

st 1

assembly – E.T. finds home 20.4.2008

Successful assembly gathering about 70 persons From the 42 persons who signed as ordinary members, more than the half are “new” and ¼ of all are not from Athens (!)

As associate members joined as our siblings, parents, doctors & nurses and friends

KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

Aims of KYTTARO • Defending our medical, ethical, professional, legal and “material” rights • Supporting in any way the present patients • Coping with “special” problems of adults survivors and their families in society (social, financial, employment, insurance, psychological etc) • Inform society and clarify issues, avoid prejudices about childhood and adolescence cancer KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

WAYS achieving aims 1 • Representations to government, scientific, social and any other corporation that can assist in achieving our aims • Contact, communication and collaboration with other associations (national & and international level) KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

WAYS achieving aims 2 • Organization and implementation of congresses, lectures, publications, exhibitions, gatherings and happenings decided to be beneficial • Providing support of survivors and their family KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

WAYS achieving aims 3 • Sub-committees working on specific matters & problems and developing new “approaches” and solutions • Creation and development of conditions helpful for making our aims a reality KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

Current Activities • visiting children in Oncology Units and the House of Children (mornings to Hospitals, evenings to House) • participating in congresses and informative events (31/10-1/11, 6th Seminar for Psychosocial Support to Childhood Cancer Patient and the Family) • supporting activities of Parents’ Association (Christmas Bazaar, 28-30/11) KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08 • designing and conducting a newsletter

MAJOR CONCERN adult survivor of childhood and adolescence cancer not to be isolated -become strong & resilient-cultivate a positive attitudeKYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

survivor says…

“Being Being cancercancer-free is not the same as being free of cancer” “There is no exact point of a cure”

“Cure is more than the eradication of cancer” KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08

…you cannot know how a trip ends, if you don’t start it…

KYTTARO, Berlin ‘08