Aliona and Sally, RBWH patients, enjoyed an afternoon of pyjamas and pancakes
The RBWH Sony You Can Youth Cancer Centre recently hosted a very special event to help launch the Sony Foundation’s You Can Stay program’s latest fundraiser, Sleep Exchange.
On a mission to help young Aussies beat cancer by relieving some of the financial and emotional stress of travelling for treatment, the Sony Foundation has partnered with Cotton On to launch the Sleep Exchange range of pyjamas. One hundred per cent of proceeds from the range will fund nights of accommodation for regional youth cancer patients through Sony Foundation’s You Can Stay program.
As part of the national accommodation program, You Can Stay, youth cancer patients from across Australia are able to access free and uncapped accommodation in a self-contained apartment at Quest Apartment Hotels for the duration of their stay in a metropolitan hospital such as RBWH.
20-year-old RBWH patient Jurgen has accessed more than 180 nights of accommodation to date, stating without You Can Stay he would have had to make a difficult decision to go to work during COVID with a compromised immune system to fund a place to stay.
“I was alone on the other side of the world to my family and friends during a global pandemic when I received my cancer diagnosis,” Jurgen said.
“If it wasn’t for the support of the Sony Foundation, I’m not sure what I would have done.” .
From DJ lessons to pancake stations, the pyjama party was a fun-filled afternoon as adolescent and young adult cancer patients aged 15-25-years came together to show their support for their regional peers, and raise awareness of the Sleep Exchange range.
The Sony Foundation and Cotton On pyjamas are available for a limited time. The pyjama range is backed by some of the biggest names in the music industry including Foo Fighters, Amy Shark and Slash from Guns N’ Roses who collaborated with Sony Foundation on exclusive PJ designs and robes.
Dr Glen Kennedy, Executive Director Cancer Services at RBWH, said it is important for the community to come together to support those who face additional burdens in accessing treatment.
“As Queensland’s largest hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital support a high number of regional youth cancer patients every year,” Glen said.
“I am proud of our youth cancer community coming together to show their support of their peers who are required to travel far from home to access life-saving treatment.”