Every year in spring a charity event happens, run by Aurora Rupp. The charity event is called Aurora Children’s Foundation Spring Ball. It is held in Harrogate, United Kingdom at The Old Swan Hotel.
The charity event helps children in Uganda get food while battling cancer.
In 2010 Aurora worked on the Paediatric Oncology Ward at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, Uganda. She was saddened to see that as well as battling cancer, many of the children were having to cope with malnutrition. The UCI was the only place in Uganda able to treat people from low income backgrounds. Unable to afford the daily commute to the hospital, rural parents were forced to give up work to be with their children. This devastating loss of income meant parents became unable to afford to feed their families. As a result these very sick children were dying of malnutrition – something completely preventable.
Deeply moved by what she saw, Aurora felt compelled to do something. Using her skills as a nutritionist she designed a menu for the patients that was affordable, tasty and nourishing. Working with a Kampala-based food supplier, Aurora sourced locally available foods for the menu to ensure that the local economy was supported in addition to the families.
Today, the ACFN works with the Uganda Cancer Institute to help provide three meals a day for every child on the ward. Nourished and with full tummies, the children no longer have to worry about feeling hungry.
Aurora’s Words
“My life changed following my time in Uganda. I had to do something to support these brave children and their families. Now, not only do the children benefit from eating nourishing food, they have something to look forward to – their mealtimes.
The work we do also has a positive effect on the families. Parents can put their time and energy in supporting their children through their illness, rather than worrying about how to find them food. Children with cancer have enough to deal with. They should not be going to bed hungry. I want to put a stop to it.”
Here are a few picture from the evening and the people who managed to raise £13,000.
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