As one of several aims, Sophie’s Appeal is proud to have introduced and continue to fund the Beads of Courage programme on Piam Brown children’s cancer ward at Southampton General Hospital. This programme provides a distraction for children whilst undergoing treatment and also a visual record of their journey.
For each trip to the hospital and every treatment they receive a child will be given a bead to represent that particular procedure or visit. For many children, they can collect hundreds or in some cases thousands of beads over their cancer journey.
Not only does it tell their story, it enables them to share with their siblings and friends what they are going through and even engenders a bit of fun rivalry on their regular visits to the hospital when children can often be found comparing their collection of beads.
There are around 100 children diagnosed with cancer every year at Southampton and, with some cancer treatments lasting many years, the total number of children supported by the Beads of Courage is vast.
