NCCCT – Is it a 'cancer' charity or not?

[Bernie]

Can someone clear up my confusion over the name of North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust?

I have recently heard that the NCCCT is no longer a charity that collects for the benefit of cancer patients.

‘If’ this is the case then should we all as contributors not be made aware of this or at least the charity name be changed to accommodate this new direction?

Maybe someone from the NCCCT reading this could clarify the situation as I have always donated to both NCCCT and Tulips because they are cancer charities.

[katecornwell]

“The North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust (NCCCT) was formed in the late 1980s at a time when there were very few charities on the island. Its founder member was the late Revd Canon Arthur Rider, who served at St Andrew’s Church, Girne.

Over the years, the NCCCT has continued to flourish and has provided much‑needed medical equipment specifically to help NCCCT logocancer patients in Girne State Hospital and Lefkoşa State Hospital. However, other patients can also benefit from some of the equipment purchased by the NCCCT. An example of this is the cardiac equipment; cancer patients are given priority but it remains available for everyone’s use.

Another example of what the NCCCT raises monies for, which they were particularly pleased to present to Girne State Hospital was a digital dermatoscopy system, namely a MoleMax, which is an essential tool for attempting early diagnosis of melanoma.

There have donated so much to the State Hospitals and it is mainly equipment to support the cancer patients.

Do so hope that clarifies your question
Regards Kate

[sophie]

I have HUGE respect for the work all of the supporters of NCCCT do and the money they raise and work so hard for, but like Bernie I too have wondered where the "cancer" aspect of their work is nowadays. I knew about its formation back in the day but it was the presentation of pieces of equipment that made me think that their priority away from Cancer towards general medical necessities might be underway. Kates explanation makes more sense now. Thank you.

[wedinnorthcyprus]

For a very short time last year i was a volunteer for NCCCT and to be honest i don't think the Cancer aspect is as important now as it was when the charity was first set up. It would be nice for the charity to explain their aims and clarify where the money is going to now. If it is not connected with cancer then i think the name should be changed so everyone is clear who they are donating too.

[sophie]

As wedinnorthcyprus said, despite my remarks as above, I still think the name is a bit of a misnomer and it would harm them not one jot if they were to drop the Cancer specific word one little bit. People would still donate regardless, because they are such a respected organisation.

[NCCCT]

On behalf of us all of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust thank you posters for your interest in us.
Kate our Secretary answered the original poster in a simple, clear and truthful way so we decided that her reply was sufficient.
It appears some would like to know more which is No problem but please have patience as this may be quite a long post!
As Kate said the charity was established 30 years ago this year and its aim was to try and help the Doctor/Surgeons working in the local State Hospitals in Girne and Lefkosa give the best possible care they could to their patients with Cancer.
The name was given at this time obviously.
We felt by doing this we were reaching out to every baby/child/man and woman living here who needed help from the State Hospitals,They could be of any nationality so we would be helping a huge part of the community.
This was our aim then as it is now. Nothing has changed.
We have bought thousands of pounds worth of medical equipment for Lefkosa and Girne State Hospitals.
This has been for oncology units, operating theatre, equipment to help with patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, physiotherapists have been trained in care of cancer sufferers from our funds, diagnostic equipment and more have all been bought by our charity.
We do this by raising funds in our two charity shops Heartbeat and The Hut which are both in Girne and which we OPEN 4 mornings a week.
This is where you the public bring in donations that we sort out and select the quality items for sale in our two shops.Other items that are not good enough to sell we do help other charities and needy causes with i.e. Tulips, KAR, The Homeless, The Special Needs Children's Schools, the lovely people who help the street dogs and others.We do not like to throw anything away that has been donated to us.
We put events on from time to time including our ''Not Just A Coffee Morning'' but a NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust One!
In our 30 years no money has been given to the State Hospitals only the medical equipment that they have asked and often 'begged' for which we have purchased.
When we have a request from the Hospitals we have a committee meeting and discuss in length if we feel we can help and we vote on the outcome.
If in a life and death situation a piece of equipment that we have purchased is used to help a patient suffering something other than cancer should we be saying No! Some of the more hi-tech equipment can obviously help in other treatments such as heart problems not just in the treatment of cancer.
Our name is us! Our name is known and respected! Why change something that is good?
Some of us are survivors of cancer and some of us have been affected by it through family and friends and this is why we care so much and do what we do!
We are such a good team and in the past year have overcome many hiccups including problems with Heartbeat which some of you may know about but by pulling together and 'With A Little Help From Our Friends' we are fighting fit again.
If you want to know anything more please pop into one of the shops, go onto our NCCCT FB page and leave a message or phone Wendy on 0533 8686078.
Thank you Kibkomers for all your support in the past and hopefully in the future.
We will be there! - From all of us of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust - The 'A ' Team- Thank you.

[transit]

I am sure that everyone will be reassured and impressed with your explanation. Thank you for going into so much detail.

[NCCCT]

Thank you Transit.
We are all proud of being part of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust. and we all work hard but also have lots of laughs together.
Our charity is an OPEN book , always has been and always will be..
Thank you all again for your support.
NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust.- The 'A' Team.

[Bernie]

Thank you for the responses however from a personal perspective and maybe for anyone not reading Kibkom would they really know that NCCCT supports more than just cancer patients.

Quote: Our name is us! Our name is known and respected! Why change something that is good?

It is now misleading when keeping the word cancer in the title as you are supporting more than just cancer patients. Many who have come through cancer, going through cancer or know someone in this same position may feel that they are being mislead when all they want to do is support cancer patients.

We know from the title exactly what the Kemal Saraçoğlu Foundation for Children with Leukaemia and the Fight Against Cancer is raising money for as we do for Tulips/Help Those With Cancer Association, yours is now a little blurred.

[bigbadbob]

As previously stated the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust has always purchased vital and often life saving equipment to help the local State Hospitals in Girne and Lefkosia.
It has been doing this now for 30 years and will continue to do so,If that piece of equipment is used in an operation to help and most likely save the life of a cancer patient, a cancer patient with something else or with only the something else, to me that is a big BONUS!
Should the charity have stipulated to the Doctors/Surgeons before purchasing the equipment that it should not be used in this way for the good of all their patients? I know most of you will think this is a silly question to ask !
I am a Survivor of Cancer twice and am one of the lucky ones.
Us survivor's live with the aftermath of cancer on a day to day basis as you never know when it can hit you in the face again or what tomorrow will bring.
I chose to become part of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust as it is the local charity and I wanted to give something back and have been volunteering for them now for over 5 years.
I would like to ask any founder members if they could tell us how long it took to have the charity legalized and what red tape and procedures had to be gone through to have the name recognized.?
If I am reading right it is the word Cancer some of you are suggesting be taken out of the title but I would imagine that if that were to be done for any reason it would involve time and money.
The only money the charity has is what has been raised with your help in the shops and at the events put on and it is solely there to buy the medical equipment the hospitals are often desperate for and for no other purpose.
I work in both of the charity shops and should we not be helping others by sorting out donations and giving to the animals, the homeless etc items that we know are not good enough for us to sell but can be made use of elsewhere?
In the same way the equipment the charity buys is firstly and most importantly to help diagnose,treat and help patients fighting cancer but if it can help other patients as well?
Please anyone of you pop into one of the shops in town, for a chat, make yourselves known at one of our events, go on to our NCCCT FB page and read all about us or why not come and join our amazing team of Volunteers We all would make you welcome.
As a Cancer survivor I do not understand what the problem is with the name of the charity. Some comments are suggesting that people like me that have had the battle and thankfully won it for now, would only want to help other Cancer sufferers.
I would and honestly think others like me would help any sufferer of any illness because of what we all have gone through ourselves with our fight of Cancer.When you have been through it yourself it changes you in so many ways and your perspective on life! Little things do not matter anymore!
The NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust in what it does saves lives!
So sorry to have gone on but I am so proud of being part of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust. the small, local charity with a BIG heart.
From me a personal thank you to all our supporters old and new and may we continue doing what we do!
BBB's other half


I

[PapaBravo]

I really do think that the question raised in the Title has been answered comprehensively. The NCCCT is a charity whose primary aim is to help those with cancer. The equipment purchased and personnel trained are for cancer sufferers, but occasionally a non 'cancer specific' case occurs that requires the use of the equipment purchased and this is absolutely right.

I think that the title, NCCCT, should not change as it is a well recognised and respected charity which does an enormous amount of good. May I respectively suggest that if you are not comfortable with the explanations given above, then you exercise your right and donate to another charity.

I should add, I have no connection with the NCCCT and that these are my personal views.

[tomsteel]

I really do think that the question raised in the Title has been answered comprehensively. The NCCCT is a charity whose primary aim is to help those with cancer. The equipment purchased and personnel trained are for cancer sufferers, but occasionally a non 'cancer specific' case occurs that requires the use of the equipment purchased and this is absolutely right.

I think that the title, NCCCT, should not change as it is a well recognised and respected charity which does an enormous amount of good. May I respectively suggest that if you are not comfortable with the explanations given above, then you exercise your right and donate to another charity.

I should add, I have no connection with the NCCCT and that these are my personal views.

IMHO a 'spot on' post. My wife of 40 years is battling the 2nd episode of this ba----d disease within two years. She would cringe at the thought that medical equipment provided by the NCCCT would be denied to non-cancer suffering patients if they needed it. Clinical decisions are best left to those who know. My personal view is the primary aim of the Charity, whatever semantic name is applied to it, is to help cancer suffering patients and any overspill into other clinical areas is a real bonus and should be applauded, not demeaned by quibbles over nomenclature. Just my view though!

[transit]

I had hoped that this matter would be concluded and that everyone would be reassured as to the aims of the NCCCT. I would like to make a few points.
Firstly, the procedure to change the name would be time-consuming and would need a lot of work, there are so many formalities. What would be the point? The NCCCT volunteers do not need this, they need to do the work that will benefit the charity. Secondly, I would like to know which piece of equipment is not considered helpful for cancer sufferers? Is it the cardiology items ( cancer patients have priority) Is it the state of the art surgical equipment, which allows operations (including cancer patients ) to be performed in half the time? Is it the latest ultra-sound equipment (self-explanatory) or is it the Mole Max which can detect skin cancers? Prostate ultra sound equipment has been purchased and vital eye checking devices. Again these can point to underlying problems. Several months ago the Trust was approached to purchase equipment which was considered necessary, but not life-saving. This request was turned down. The NCCCT takes its obligations seriously and is always aware that this money has been raised with the help of the public. It is therefore spent wisely.

Finally, I think that the NCCCT should be commended for the hard work, dedication and the honesty that have prevailed over the years. When you see doctors close to tears when such items are presented and you are told that the Girne Hospital would be a first aid post were it not for the NCCCT you can understand. How can anyone criticise such a charity.

[sophie]

Mine was Message 3 and the explanations given above are more than adequate. However I do have one further question. Are there any pieces of equipment that the State Hospitals would "sell their Grannies for" that the private hospitals already have in situ?

[bigbadbob]

I am not sure what you mean Sophie but am pleased that you think we have answered the original queries to your satisfaction.
The private hospitals are just that private where the choice of which one to go to is entirely the patients because the patients are paying for the appointments with the Doctors/Specialists and the treatments.
Just the same as if you choose to go private in the UK.
Patients of the State Hospitals do not have such a choice only on the location of the hospital they need help from.
We do not buy equipment for the private Hospitals.
Working in the charity shops especially in Heartbeat I have first hand knowledge of the people who use the Girne State Hospital as they come in to buy clothes for their babies/children and families from us.Also household items such as bed linens, towels., pots and pans etc.
We play a big part in the local communities lives and we all love doing it and over time have got to know many local families and have built up good relationships with them.
''Are there any pieces of equipment that the State Hospitals would ''sell their Grannies for'' that the private hospitals already have in situ?
Have I missed something or is this a comment made in jest?
To put it bluntly the majority of patients who trust and are in the care of the State Hospitals would not be able to afford treatment in a private Hospital so whatever equipment the private hospitals have would not help these patients.
Sorry for not getting it! Blame it on the weather or tiredness
BBB's other half XXX

[sophie]

Sorry BBB but yes, you've totally misinterpreted my question. Will try and re sent simply and as best I can. There must be pieces of oncology equipment in, say NEU hospital, that the Girne State Hospital would dearly love to have. I just wondered if they have a Wish List, and if so does NCCCT know what is on it? Sorry if I'm asking out of turn. Just interested.

[bigbadbob]

Sorry Sophie and thank you for your further explanation. I do apologize for not ''getting it'' the first time.
I can only speak for us the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust when I say how it works.
We only know what they are in need of when we are asked. Maybe we can ask if they have a wish list for in the future but this is North Cyprus and I have found that one of the most frustrating things here is that everything is last minute!
Whether or not the private hospitals would help the State hospitals personally I do not know.
My thoughts are if they could and would why has this not happened already?
You have given food for thought and thank you again.
BBB's other half

[bigbadbob]

Not actually on topic but I hope the administrators will forgive me please!
I just would like to say a BIG thank you on behalf of the charity to a certain lovely man who innocently came in to Heartbeat last Friday to bring us donations with his lovely partner and what did I do?
We had an unusable toilet and I asked him if ''he was a man who can''.!
He could!
After working on it on Friday and for a few hours today he has fixed t! We can ''FLUSH..
Would he accept anything for parts and the hours he worked? NO!
Our Hero and from all of us of the NorthCyprusCancerCharityTrust - WE LOVE YOU!
BBB's other half - relieved in more ways than one!