Khanaqin students buy teddy bears for children with cancer

KHANAQIN — Fursan Al-Mustaqbal Schools in Khanaqin organized an event Sunday to support children with cancer on International Childhood Cancer Day, with students purchasing teddy bears to be distributed as gifts to young patients.

Event organizer Mohammed Youssef, a physical education teacher, told 964media that preparations lasted a week. He called on public schools to take similar steps.

“This festival or event was organized as support for cancer patients,” Youssef said. “Every year we try, as much as we can, to repeat the festival in support of cancer patients. What we know is that cancer patients face a psychological illness. We try as much as we can to help them so they can have a longer life in this world. What we are doing may be something small, but for them it means a lot.”

Student Maria Mohammed said: “Every student brought a teddy bear for children who have cancer so that they know there are people who support them and stand by them. I hope the teddy bear I brought makes a child with cancer happy.”

Another student, Asia Ahmed, said: “We did this to highlight the courage of children who have cancer. We felt something very beautiful inside because we are encouraging those who have cancer.”

International Childhood Cancer Day is observed annually on Feb. 15 to raise awareness and promote support for children diagnosed with cancer worldwide.