Children Fighting Leukemia Were in the Stands at the Anadolu Efes Game

As part of Leukemia Children's Week, the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation brought children in treatment for leukemia, children who have completed treatment and their families together in the EuroLeague stands. On the evening of 5 November the children watched the Anadolu Efes–Paris Basketball game at the Turkcell Basketball Development Centre from the stands.

Children who spend most of their treatment days in hospital rooms joined, this time, the chants of thousands of fans. Children fighting leukemia and children who have beaten it took their seats with their families at the EuroLeague game in which Anadolu Efes hosted Paris Basketball.

The game was the last big gathering of the programme the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation prepared for Leukemia Children's Week (2-8 November). The week began on 2 November at the Atatürk Airport Nation's Garden and continued on 3 November with the “Kampüste İyilik Var” (Goodness on Campus) event at Haliç University.

“I Invite Everyone to Be Part of This Team of Volunteers”

Kemal Bilal Aydın, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Bizim Lösemili Çocuklar Foundation, drew a strong link between basketball and the children's treatment journey:

Kemal Bilal Aydın, Chair of the Board of Trustees

“Tonight we saw our children in the stands, among thousands of people. For children who spend much of their treatment away from crowds, being part of the excitement that fills an arena tells us a great deal. Seeing a child jump up and shout with joy after a basket is the best sign of how strongly they hold on to life. Throughout Leukemia Children's Week we were with our children all over Istanbul. Tonight we gave the same message from the stands: our children will succeed. We invite everyone in society to be part of this team and stand by our children.”

The foundation's General Manager Nurkan Karabulut highlighted what the week meant for the children and their families:

“This week we met our children at the Nation's Garden and on campus. Tonight we were in the stands. At every event, the smile on our children's faces was the answer to why we organise this week. The moments families spent together also eased the burden of treatment, if only a little. We thank Anadolu Efes for hosting our children at the game, and all the institutions and volunteers who stood by us every day of the week.”

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. It provides financial, moral and psychological support to children fighting leukemia and their families. The foundation 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.

Moments from the event

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