Accompanying children and adolescents with cancer, as well as their families, in the complex path of the disease. Giving them logistical, socio-legal and psychological support completely free of charge. It’s this one the mission of the FARO project. with which Peter Pan Odv, together with Aimac and the Soleterre Foundation, opened a new chapter in the accompaniment of families forced to deal with pediatric tumors. The initiative – which covers the territory of Rome and Lazio while also offering help to those who do not reside in the region – recently celebrated one year since its birth. And during the press conference, held on Wednesday in the capital, he drew an initial assessment while looking to the future with confidence.
In these first 365 days, Progetto FARO has supported 87 families with children or adolescents suffering from cancer. In particular, 69 families took advantage of the socio-legal orientation and 225 psychological interviews were held aimed at young patients, but also at parents, brothers and sisters and caregivers. Of the 87 families involved to date, 24% are residents of Lazio while 30% are of foreign origin. Also among the most important concrete supports the solidarity shuttles, which accompanied families to and from the places of treatment. A total journey of over 23,000 kilometres, equivalent to the distance between Rome and New Zealand. In addition to this, a territorial presence has been organized in Rome for the personalized care and accompaniment of each family unit and a toll-free number has been activated (the FARO Line: 800600604) to access the services.
A very complex process was therefore carried out in one year, the result of long and careful study. As the general director of Peter Pan Odv highlights, Ferdinando Ricci: «Before starting everything we analyzed the data on the incidence of tumors for a long time. We then moved on to interview both healthcare workers and the families of cancer patients to understand their needs. We quickly realized that the main needs were numerous. We decided to always put families at the center of the project and the results also came thanks to our ability to modify various aspects of the project on the fly.”
The project, financed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, was also born with the aim of not leaving hospitals and healthcare facilities alone with the burden of support which in this case is never easy. «FARO represents a concrete example of how collaboration between healthcare professionals, Third Sector operators, volunteers and families can translate into more integrated treatment paths and real support services for those facing the disease. The multidisciplinary approach and networking promoted by the project in fact favor global care of the child, adolescent and family, improving the quality of care”, explains the doctor. Angela Mastronuzzi, head of the Neuro-Oncology unit at the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome and President of AIEOP (Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology).
At the center of the initiative is, as mentioned, Peter Pan Odv founded in Rome in 1994 with the aim of hosting children suffering from cancer and their families who move to the capital for treatment. Over time the association has been able to gather around itself hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors, managing today to help over 900 families. And with FARO we tried to take a further step. «Traditionally we guarantee all these services to the families hosted in our reception homes, but with Progetto FARO we have also been able to extend them to those who do not stay with us. In this way we can be close to even more people”, he comments Roberto Mainieropresident of Peter Pan Odv. Which Ricci echoes again: «We obtain personal gratification by analyzing and always trying to improve what we do. And in this case also bringing concrete results. Which range from the simple but fundamental relational chat with the family, to obtaining a right such as exemptions or economic benefits. Our association believes a lot in human presence and the meaning of family. Here we live alongside people who face a difficult path and often negative moments. I feel gratified if I can bring them a little benefit.”
Now for the imminent start of the second year of the project there are several new features. Starting from the entry into the team of two new entities as a Foundation Dynamo Camp Etyes Irene Odv Associationwith which the offer of services will be increased. Specifically, a socio-legal secretariat will be activated with an affiliated Caf and the offer of psychological support will be expanded, thanks to support groups for parents and adolescents, thematic groups to raise awareness of the problems of the disease and peer-to-peer groups for mutual help. Furthermore, home psychomotor rehabilitation will be introduced, the solidarity shuttles will become regional coverage and the recreational-recreational activities to be carried out in Rome but also outside the region will increase, at the Dynamo Camp in Pistoia. «In our opinion it is very important to allow families to take advantage of the recreational therapy that Dynamo Camp has been practicing for many years. It is certainly a very important step for the social reintegration of these children and is also useful for their families”, concludes Ricci.
