Story
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Welcome to Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund USA</span></strong><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><strong>Note:</strong> DECF UK is receiving and holding donations for DECF USA until our official 501(c)(3) status is achieved. This is why £ currency appears on this page. Our appeal goal is $10,000 (£6,500). We recommend <a href="http://www.xe.com/ucc">www.xe.com/ucc</a> if you wish to check conversion rates before making your donation. Donations will automatically be converted to £ by the bank. Credit card companies may charge a small fee for the transaction. S</em>ome banks block online transactions when they are "out of character". If this happens, please contact your bank to allow the paymenr to proceed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Retinoblastoma is a curable cancer that kills 7,000 children around the world each year, and robs hundreds of precious sight across the USA. Many young children will be spared blindness, and precious lives will be saved by increasing awareness, access to evidence based medical care and compassionate family support. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>We invite you to join us in bringing these opportunities to children and families across the USA this Christmas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Our Mission</span></strong><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund is dedicated to bringing life and sight saving care to every child </span><span>with retinoblastoma, </span><span>and ending needless suffering from this cancer. <span> </span>We do this by: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>· </span><span>Educating the public and primary health workers about retinoblastoma to achieve early diagnosis and rapid referral to specialist care; <br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span> </span><span>Empowering the medical community to deliver sustainable high quality evidence-based care that gives each child the best possible opportunities;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span>· </span><span>Enabling family support programs that reduce practical, emotional, financial and social burdens and improve access to essential care.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span> Our History</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Brave young Daisy</span><span> travelled from England for specialist treatment in Toronto. <span> </span>On returning home, her parents didn’t hesitate to share the hope they had been given with a family from Botswana - Rati had a serious relapse of her cancer due to delayed and incomplete care in Africa. <span> </span>Money from The Daisy Fund covered travel and initial treatment costs in Toronto, and Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund was born in both England and Canada. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Our mission has now evolved far beyond the needs of one child, as we aspire to bring the promise of life and sight to every child with eye cancer. <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>"<a title="Rati's Challenge" href="http://www.daisyfund.org/programs/rati/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">Rati's Challenge</span></a>" brings hope to families affected by retinoblastoma in Africa, where currently less than 2 in 10 children s</span><span>urvive. <span> </span>Our awareness, </span><span>medical care and family support programs form a </span><span>model for retinoblastoma care in low income countries that is already changing many lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Find out more at <a title="www.daisyfund.org" href="http://www.daisyfund.org">www.daisyfund.org</a><br></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund USA</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>From the international office in England, Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund has been a lifeline for hundreds of families across the USA during the last seven years, providing information, advice, advocacy and practical help. Recognizing the unique challenges for families affected by retinoblastoma in the USA, and honouring the many stateside supporters of our work, we are setting the wheels in motion to establish Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund USA.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>As well as supporting the international work, DECF-USA has two distinct programs benefiting families across the United States:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span>Retinoblastoma Family Groups</span></span><span>: we aim to develop single-state and regional family groups across the country, so that within five years, every family will have access to face-to-face support close to home. <span> </span>Each family group will provide a program of social activities, small financial support, information for families and local advocacy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span>National Retinoblastoma Strategy</span></span><span>: we are committed to establishing a national collaborative multi-centre approach to retinoblastoma care, encompassing awareness, medical care and family support initiatives to improve care for all affected children, adult survivors and families in America. <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>How You Can Help</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our appeal goal is $10,000 (£6,500). We recommend <a href="http://www.xe.com/ucc">www.xe.com/ucc</a> if you wish to check conversion rates before making your donation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>With your help, we can create a bright future for all children with eye cancer and their families in the USA and around the world. Please share hope by donating today. <span> </span></span></p>
<p><strong><span>Simply Make a Donation: </span></strong><span>Donating through JustGiving<strong> </strong>is simple, fast and secure. JustGiving will never sell your details or send unwanted emails. They send your money directly to Daisy Fund and reclaim Gift Aid on eligible donations by UK taxpayers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span>Sell Gold Ribbon Lapel Pins: </span></strong><span>Shining with the vibrant joy of children, the gold ribbon is the unifying symbol of childhood cancer. Each gold ribbon brings hope to children and their families currently battling childhood cancer, celebrates the victory of each survivor and honours the memory of every precious life lost. <span> </span>If you would like to sell gold ribbon lapel pins in your community for a minimum donation of $4.50, please contact us for supplies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span><a href="http://www.daisyfund.org/support/fundraise/daisybake.html"><span style="color: blue;">Host a Daisy Bake</span></a></span></strong><span> to support our work, and create an awareness display next to your stall for customers. Hand out awareness flyers with each sale of your delicious produce to educate your community about the early warning signs of eye cancer in children<strong>. Remember to donate the funds you raise via this page to ensure they benefit DECF-USA.</strong> <br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>For a host of other fundraising ideas, <a title="download our Fundraiser's Pack" href="http://www.daisyfund.org/support/fundraise/fundraiser_pack1.html"><span style="color: blue;">download our Fundraiser's Pack</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Every penny you donate will help us build better care for children with eye cancer in the USA. <br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>So please dig deep and help us build a brighter future for our youngest and most vulnerable cancer warriors in the USA.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>THANK YOU VERY MUCH.</strong></p>