Beads Of Courage
Beads of Courage is organised in New Zealand by the Child Cancer Foundation. The programme supports and strengthens the protective resources in children coping with serious illness.
1710 Beads have been donated so far this year by members of the NZBGA
Each childs Beads of Courage® journey begins when they are given a length of string and beads that spell out their first name. Then, colourful beads, each representing a different treatment milestone are given to the child to add to their collection throughout their treatment.
Rory Gardiner is a child participating in the program, please feel free to visit his website and assist where possible.
Ongoing evaluation indicates that the programme helps to decrease illness-related distress, increase the use of positive coping strategies, helps children find meaning in illness and restore sense of self in children coping with serious illness. The program also provides something tangible the child can use to tell about their experience during cancer treatment and after.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Donations of handmade beads are greatly appreciated. Handmade beads are given to children as they pass special treatment milestones and these can be any type of lampworked bead. A Purple Heart is given to children at the end of their course of treatment and a Butterfly Bead is given to bereaved families.
Bead submission guidelines:
- Beads must be technically sound i.e. have no sharp edges or elements and decorations that may break off
- The beads must be annealed and cleaned before being sent to Isla. Butterflies are packaged in small black boxes. These are 8cm wide by 5cm deep so butterfly beads must stay within these parameters so as to fit in the box for sending
- Beads should not be too large try keep them to bracelet sized beads and they should have lost of bright funky pretty colours to help the children smile
Please feel free to contact Isla Osborne for more details about the Beads of Courage® Programe in New Zealand or to donate beads.
Isla Osborne
a: 2 Wellpark Avenue, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021
t: 021 027 22005
Click here to download donation information
Click here to view other artists butterfly tutorials online
Born to Bead studio offers their studio one morning a month to make Beads for the program. Artists need bring in their own glass. Those who do not make beads can volunteer their services to clean and package beads made from the previous month for the children. Please contact Lisa-Jane Harvey at The Born to Bead studio on 09 535 2280. Alternatively you can visit her website www.borntobead.co.nz and check the calendar for the next Beads of Courage open studio.
BorntoBeadnz said
To the Born to Bead team,
My son Rory Gardiner, aged 7, was diagnosed with a brain tumour out of the blue on the 17th of March this year. He has undergone surgery and is now in the early stages of radiotherapy. Chemotherapy will follow. He has spent the majority of the last 8 weeks at Starship Hospital (last weekend was our first time home!). A friend of mine created a website to allow people to follow Rory’s journey and support our family http://www.rorygardiner.co.nz
I wanted to thank you all for the beautiful beads you create as part of the Beads of Courage programme. In 8 weeks Rory has collected almost 300 beads (he has almost filled his third string). You will see some photos of him with his beads in the early stages on the website. He is very proud of them, and his friends are in awe. It is great visual tactile evidence of what he has come through. Last week Rory was the first NZ child to start a strand of sibling beads for his 9 year old brother Sam (who was chuffed to be acknowledged as part of the fight).
Keep up the great work.
Best wishes Leigh Honnor (Rory’s mum)