Our Children Did It Again This Week

The Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation's Leukemia Children's Week events came to a close with gatherings that stretched from the Nation's Garden to the Haliç University campus and the EuroLeague stands.

Throughout Leukemia Children's Week (2-8 November), children in treatment for leukemia and those who have completed it flew drones with their families, met experts, competed on the same team as university students and felt the excitement of the EuroLeague from the stands. The message of the week never changed: our children will succeed.

After long days of treatment in hospital rooms, this week was a time of play, curiosity and excitement for the children. As part of Leukemia Children's Week, the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation brought children in treatment, children who have completed treatment and their families together at three separate gatherings.

The Week Began at the Nation's Garden

The first stop of the week, on 2 November, was the Atatürk Airport Nation's Garden. On a day that began with a family breakfast, the children competed in board games, took turns at the drone controller for their first flights and got a close look at the work of artists and craftspeople in the Master Hands area. The day ended with the Balloons of Hope, where the children shared their wishes, and a surprise gift draw.

Kampüste İyilik Var (Goodness on Campus)

On 3 November, Haliç University and its founder, the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation, hosted the children and their families on the Haliç University campus for the “Kampüste İyilik Var” event. In his opening speech, Haliç University Rector Prof. Dr. Enes Eryarsoy drew attention to the importance of scientific progress and the right treatment approaches in leukemia care. Prof. Dr. Deniz Tuğcu spoke about childhood leukemias, psychologist Buse Başakgil about the psychological side of treatment and dietitian Başak Çakmak about the role of nutrition in treatment, and they answered families' questions.

The most emotional moments of the programme came when the children shared their own life stories with the audience. They then teamed up with Haliç University students in a Kahoot quiz. The day continued with a music recital, mascots, a draw in which two electric bicycles found their owners and a hands-on kitchen workshop with chefs, and ended with a group photo.

The Week's Finale Was in the EuroLeague Stands

The last gathering of the week took place on the evening of 5 November at the Turkcell Basketball Development Centre. The children and their families watched the EuroLeague game between Anadolu Efes and Paris Basketball from the stands. Children who spend much of their treatment away from crowds shared, this time, in the excitement of thousands of fans.

“Our Children Will Succeed”

Kemal Bilal Aydın, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Haliç University and the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation, looked back on the week.

Kemal Bilal Aydın, Chair of the Board of Trustees

“This week we saw our children at a drone controller, on a university campus and in the basketball stands. Each time we witnessed the same thing: given the chance, these children hold on to life more strongly than anyone. A child fighting leukemia needs more than treatment. Play, friendship, curiosity and a sense of belonging are part of the healing journey too. As the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation, we have stood by these children and their families since 1980. Haliç University being part of this week was the finest reflection of our aim to bring science and goodness together under one roof. Leukemia Children's Week has ended, but our responsibility to stand by our children never will. This week we saw once again that our children will succeed. We invite everyone in society to stand by them all year round.”

The foundation's General Manager Nurkan Karabulut thanked everyone who contributed to the week.

“Every smile on our children's faces this week was the answer to why we organise these gatherings. The moments families spent together also eased the burden of treatment, if only a little. We sincerely thank Haliç University for hosting us on its campus, Anadolu Efes for welcoming our children to the game, the Nation's Garden management, the experts who shared their knowledge in the talks, the students and all our volunteers.”

The Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation will continue its work for children fighting leukemia and their families throughout the year.

About the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation

The work of the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation began in 1980, and the organisation gained foundation status in 1983. The foundation provides financial, moral and psychological support to children fighting leukemia and their families. It opened a 25-bed children's ward within the Istanbul University Children's Clinic in 1986, and the bone marrow transplantation unit it established on 26 October 1989 became Turkey's first paediatric transplantation unit. The foundation is the founding foundation of Haliç University, established in 1998.