Our Journey

1990

Cancer Warriors Foundation, a fulfillment of a promise of young survivor with a courageous heart.

The Cancer Warriors Foundation is the fulfillment of a promise —- a promise made by a 19 years old boy James, as he himself was battling brain cancer. A promise that every Filipino child, stricken with cancer, especially the poor and disadvantaged, will have an equal chance to conquer cancer and to avail of cancer treatments.

CWF is founded on the conviction that cancer can be beaten, if detected early, given proper management and care, and armed with the unwavering faith, that “God will make a way” – a song that sustained and inspired James Auste during his long and difficult battle with a rare form of brain cancer.

Upon his recovery, James vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to fighting cancer, in whatever way he could. Together with a group of passionate and committed young volunteers, he found a way to make good on his promise.

2000

Bike for Life – A Journey of Hope, the first awareness campaign in the Philippines of the faces, realities and challenges of childhood cancer .

In May 2000, James together with some friends and families organized the first – BIKE FOR LIFE: A Journey for Hope. Bike for Life was a fund raising as well as consciousness raising initiative which raised the level of national consciousness and brought various cities, municipalities, people and organizations across the country to the realities, faces and challenges of childhood cancer.
Bike for Life Manila to Cebu – a two-week campaign participated by bike and sport enthusiast with a heart to help children with cancer. In every stopover in different municipalities, a group of bikers will join James and his team. Alongside this activity are the symposiums on cancer awarenesss.

The Bike for Like 2007 ends in Davao and passes through various cities and municipalities such as Batangas, Calapan, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol, CDO, Davao and many more.

2002

CANCERT – Kantahan para sa Kabataang may Kanser (A Concert for Kids with Cancer)

In 2000 and 2002, CWF in collaboration with chorale groups of different colleges and universities in Metro Manila came together in a night of fun, serenade and choral musical with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of schools, their students and administration of the realities of childhood cancer.

The CANCERT project also aims to generate funds for the treatment and quality care of children with cancer in need of medical assistance. The event, targets to generate support and active involvement of the different sectors of the society in the FIGHT against childhood cancer.

2008

CWF involvement in the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of The Cheaper Medicine Law

In February 2008, after 8 years of Advocacy work, the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) has committed to initiate the importation of childhood cancer drugs to lower the prices by at least 50%. In June of the same year, CWF was involved in the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Cheaper Medicine Law/Act to safeguard and assure rights of patients to access cheap, safe, and quality medicines.

CWF continues its advocacy for DOH inclusion of the cancer drugs in the parallel importation program of the government as well as policy reforms related to care for children with cancer and other related campaigns such as tobacco. While significant breakthroughs have been achieved, the FIGHT to put childhood cancer in the national health and government agenda continues.

2009

CWF continues its effort to create awareness about childhood cancer, equipping and making health system in the Philippines informed about the existence of cancer to children

International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day

In 2009, CWF in collaboration with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the leading broadsheets in the Philippines, came out with a infomercial “The Radiation” – a poem written by a volunteer highlighting the challenges of childhood cancer as well as the wishes and dreams of those who are caught in this awful journey.

Barangay Health Workers Forum
In September of the same year, as part of the capacity building grant received from the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), a series of Barangay Health Workers Forum was conducted in 12 cities and 12 regions across the country. Barangay Health workers as the frontline and backbone of the Philippines heath system/structure plays a key role in the health support system of the country, thus, the forum was organized and focused on increasing the awareness of the volunteers on the nature of childhood cancer, the signs and symptoms, and the assistance the health workers can provide to families of kids with cancer. This forum was done in coordination with local health officials, local practicing pedia-hema-oncologist or pedia-oncologist that serve as resource speakers.

2009 is a banner year for CWF, not just because of the successful awareness events the foundation have organized such as the Art Therapy, the Christmas Card Project, the Sta. Claus campaign and more. 2009 was also a birth of a new CWF cell in Davao led by the Bayogan Family whose daughter died of Leukemia. The Bayogan Family volunteered their time and resources to bring hope and love to kids with cancer and their families who are being treated with cancer in Davao.

Also 2009, is one of CWF milestone as we have achieved one of our major advocacy goals – Reduced Prices for Childhood Cancer Drugs and Government support for treatment of kids with cancer.

2010

CWF continues its journey through the Patient Support Program made available in key cities and provinces

Since its inception in 2000 CWF accomplishes through initiatives and partnerships with government, the private sector and a strong network of parents and volunteers – Patient Support Program, which have spread and made available in key cities and key regions around the country.

In effect the number of kids with cancer provided with support and assistance outside Metro Manila have also increased. CWF is now present in Pampanga, Bicol, Batangas, Mindoro, Cebu, Tacloban, and Davao.

2011

The Gold Ribbon Campaign
CWF Gold Ribbon Campaign was launched in partnership with a reality TV program Pinoy Big Brother House, wherein Pinoy Big Brother housemates made Gold Ribbon bracelets and a booth selling the Gold Ribbon was set up.

In 2011, a group of high school students takes a stand and partnered with CWF in sharing the Gold Ribbon campaign in their respective schools with the aim of increasing awareness of students and young people about the existence of childhood cancer.

2012

Making Health Services accessible and available –
The Z Package, a new health benefit package for cancer patients

In 2012, The Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education for the provision of selected free medicine for Leaukemia (ALL only) was renewed and PHILHEALTH created and launched the Z Package, a new benefit package for cancer patients, which includes coverage for childhood leukemia (ALL) up to 10 years old.

CWF continues its awareness raising campaigns and activities, among priority schools, churches and offices. The messages were embedded into the special events of these organizations, which resulted to creations of other activities led by these organizations to further support children with cancer. Some of the new corporate partners include: Deutsch Bank, Raintree Philippines, GNC Netreuticals, Medicard, FSG Group, Rustans, Robinsons, Victory Churches and others.

This year, CWF in partnership with Rustans continued a program that started in 2008 – Kids Art Work, which was made into Christmas Card and sold to all Rustans Department Store. On the other hand, Robinsons have partnered with us in selling the CWF messages bags.

2013

The journey continues: Information, Communication and Early Diagnosis, a campaign to save lives of children with Retinoblastoma

In 2013, CWF with Shell Foundation and in partnership with Simon of Cyrene undertook a pilot information, communication and early diagnosis campaign on Retinoblastoma in the regions V and VI with target reach to Ophthalmologists, Pediatricians, Teachers, Community Development Workers and Barangay Health Workers.

This is done because Retinoblastoma is the 4^th most common childhood cancer in the Philippines but if detected early and treated properly it has a 96% – 99% survival rate. On the other hand late diagnosis could lead to lose of sight, total (bilateral) blindness and even death.

CWF was also invited by NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) Child Coalition to participate and make a presentation in the first NCD Child International Conference held in Oakland, USA, co-hosted by the Global Health Council. CWF presentation focused on the successful partnership, which lead to increased access to affordable childhood cancer medicines for Leukemia in the Philippines.

In the desire to make the voices of children with cancer, the survivors and their families louder and stronger, CWF continuous its efforts and forms alliances, linkages and partnerships with local as well as international organizations, private and businesses as well as civil society organizations (NGO’s, INGO’s, interfaith groups, professional associations, civic organizations, medical practioner’s, and others). CWF also joined the Global NCD Child Coalition as well as became a member of Caring and Living as Neighbors, a network base in Australia. CWF also continues to strengthen its ties and partnership with CCI and its members in Asia.

The Ellinwood Church Project 105

In partnership and through the generosity of Ellinwood Church in Malate, CWF was able to continue the purchases of chemotherapeutic medicines for children with cancer – Project 105. Ellinwood financial support continues to be an important contribution to the success and services of the foundation. Aside from that, the Ellinwood church hosted the weekly parent meetings, helping in the facilitation spiritual growth of parents amidst the trials of childhood cancer. In partnership with Kapwa ko Mahal ko, Ellinwood also hosted a Christmas giving activity that brings additional joy to the children with cancer, the survivors and their families.

CWF joins the Tokyo Marathon 2015 in celebration of the International Childhood Cancer Day

James Auste, teen brain cancer survivor, founder of Cancer Warriors Foundation (CWF), Philippines and CWF Global Ambassador, have joined the Run for Hope, the 42K Tokyo Marathon 2015 together with Kazuyo Watanabe, founder of Asian Children’s Cancer League (ACCL)

They have joined the 35,000 other marathoners from around the globe though their goal of joining is not to compete; instead they are running to make visible the message that childhood cancer is curable. Every step they take is for every child/adolescent fighting cancer everywhere in the world. Every step they make is to remind us that Childhood Cancer is now the leading cause of death in both developed, developing, and middle-income countries,

James and Kazuyo run for hope. The hope that childhood cancer issues and challenges will be given importance and acted upon; the hope that children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families will receive more support from national governments and their communities; the hope that children/adolescents with cancer will receive early diagnosis; the best possible treatment and care; better access to affordable safe and effective essential medicines and improved outcomes / increased survivorship.