By Molly Arabella Kirk

A really important date to mark on your calendar every year is international Childhood Cancer Day, falling on February 15^th. Alongside Childhood Cancer Month in September, this day provides a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer and provide support and catharsis to all the many families it impacts around the world.

To take part in commemorating this important cause this year, and to further raise awareness, I thought I would utilise this community space to promote some key local figures I have had the privilege of meeting and interviewing. These figures conduct incredible work both on the frontlines and behind the scenes to start open dialogues surrounding the honest realities of Childhood Cancer.

Lama Andari

‘Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.’ – Roger Crawford

To start this open conversation who better to interview than the incredible Lama Andari? 

Lama is the founder of the Abtaluna (which means “Our Superheroes” in Arabic) social enterprise, dedicated to raising awareness and connecting families whose children are fighting/have fought cancer. Through Abtaluna she organises events across Dubai and offers unique services to our true little superheroes and their families, because they deserve it! By her own words Lama is an unwavering advocate for raising cancer awareness and the importance of focusing on self-care and wellbeing for all involved in the battle against cancer. 

‘Overall it’s been a bittersweet journey. No parent wants to see their child go through cancer, so talking about it can be painful. However, I am inspired by my son and feel that it’s my duty to amplify his voice and the voices of all Super Kids. I am beyond grateful to the UAE community who has supported Abtaluna and helps us spread awareness.’

Lama is also the published author of the charming children’s book Super Kids, Our Journey Healing From Cancer. This gorgeous book was Lama’s own way of accepting the reality of cancer, having also lost her first husband to cancer and consequently knowing firsthand how cancer can impact families and how it steals people’s lives too soon. But more than that, her book is the first book about childhood cancer from our region and provides ‘a tool that is accessible for kids, parents and teachers, found in schools to get the conversation started.’ The book itself also encourages all children to support each other instead of bullying cancer patients for looking or acting a little different. 

As someone who has worked previously within PR and education, Lama has been shocked to find that nothing is really done in schools to help raise awareness for paediatric cancer. She has found that shockingly people will often respond to the topic of cancer in an avoidant manner using excuses such as: ‘I am not sure we are ready to talk about it yet’ or ‘I am not sure it is a topic they want to talk about in the morning.’ These excuses are not only harmful and counterintuitive (as avoiding the topic will only make it worse) but also fall into the many negative associations that cancer has. 

‘Instead of associating cancer with death, you have to associate it with community, strength and hope….’ 

‘Us parents we are responsible of our kids’ wellbeing and physical health and that includes learning about childhood cancer signs and symptoms and the importance of seeking several medical opinions before understanding what the diagnosis is.’

As Lama moves forward on her brave journey of raising cancer awareness, through Abtaluna, she hopes to help facilitate more super kids and their families meeting and supporting one another, building strong partnerships with the public, private and NGO sectors and offering mental health support to super kids and their families. 

‘A lot more can and should be done to support the cause.’

Likewise, regarding her book, she hopes to distribute copies to every school in the country and beyond because every child should learn that cancer must not be feared. Instead, education is power, so we should instead feel empowered when we learn more about cancer. Lama may even write a new book as a joint project between the super kids and her! 

Lama’s key advice for us all is to always take time to reflect and be rational: ‘we cannot pour from an empty cup.’ If you need help find support in your family, friends or a trained professional. Mental health is a must, and therefore we should always be mindful about what we pour our time and energy into.