Winners at Exhibition for Childhood Cancer Awareness Competition

Children Living With Cancer Foundation organises art competition and exhibition on creating awareness on childhood cancer where three secondary students emerge winners

 

THREE students from different secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun States have emerged winners at an art exhibition staged to create awareness on childhood cancer.  Fourteen-year-old Omotosho Dabira of Avi-Cenna International School, Ikeja, Lagos, came first with her dark tree painting that has branches with different colours titled- ‘Colours of Life’. She said in her artistic statement that ‘Life may be dark. Be that dark tree that blossoms with joy and happiness.’’

Also, 14-year-old Osimhe Paul of Rainbow College Boarding, Ogun State, came second while Owolabi Anoluwakpo got the third position.

The winners artworks were part of the 20 paintings displayed by students from five selected secondary schools to bring succour to children diagnosed with cancer through art exhibition that sends message of love, hope and support.

The art competition and exhibition was organized by Nneka Nwobbi, founder, Children Living With Cancer Foundation, CLWCF, in Lagos State. According to her, the essence of the exhibition is to sensitise students to create awareness among their friends of the possibility of children being diagnosed with cancer.

The CLWCF creates awareness that children also have cancer which is curable. It aims to save as many lives as possible through early detection, diagnoses and prompt medical attention and taking care of the children by making their lives as comfortable as possible during the illness.

Nwobbi explained that the 15-year old foundation sprang up as a result of shock discovery of people being unaware that children could be diagnosed with cancer, and that there was no such children foundation to create awareness and cater for them. According to her, February 15, was International Childhood Cancer Day and there is 20 percent of success treatment in Nigeria, while it is up to 90 percent success story in Europe because  they support the victims with medications; support families and cover some expenses on chemotherapy among others.

While acknowledging schools that have been supportive to the foundation, the founder called on government, organizations and individuals to continue to support them as they have miles to cover in caring for the children.

The exhibition was a display of arts by participating schools. There were display of over 20 paintings by the participants and after inspection and interviewing of the young artistes by the judges,

In a chat with Chidera Enwere, an amputee and a beneficiary of the foundation, said “My right leg was amputated at the age of 13 because of cancer and I am now 18 years. For the past six years, the foundation has been taking care of me as they provide drugs, finance and hope just as these works of art are saying. May God bless and sustain the foundation.”