Associació de Nens amb Càncer (AFANOC)

The ‘Asociación de Familiares y Amigos de Niños Oncológicos de Cataluña’ (Association of Families and Friends of Children Treated for Cancer of Catalonia), known as AFANOC, was founded in 1987 and plays an important role in various different areas with regard to the needs of families when a child is diagnosed with cancer. The aim of the association is to work towards ensuring that children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer, and their families, are able to cope with the circumstances they are faced with in the most appropriate way possible. With this in mind, AFANOC accompanies families throughout the entire illness, providing comprehensive psychosocial support from the very beginning, throughout the treatment in the main referral hospitals — such as, Hospital Maternoinfantil de Vall d’Hebron and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu — during their time spent in the ‘Casa de los Xuklis’, and also when they return home. Therefore, we count on local support through our branches in Tarragona and Lleida. To be able to fulfil this aim, the association provides social, psychological and emotional support, as well as support during the bereavement process. Furthermore, it provides educational support, including leisure and cultural activities, and support in the area of reflexology and massages. The association prioritizes communication and raising awareness of childhood cancer. AFANOC relies on the help of volunteers who offer support in the hospitals, in the ‘Casa de los Xuklis’, at home, and via media campaigns and events, such as the “¡Ponte la gorra!” (“Put your cap on!”) campaign. The most notable project launched by AFANOC is the ‘Casa de los Xuklis’, a home made up of 25 apartments that welcomes families who need to temporarily move to Barcelona in order to receive medical care in referral hospitals across the city.