By 
By Ross Moyo
Volunteer at KidzCan / Cancer Support / Diagnostic Event —
Talking about your Story – Why Volunteer?
1. What made you decide to volunteer — not just donate, but give your time?
2. When did you first walk into a children’s cancer ward, and what did you feel?
By Nicky Elliott, as told to TechnoMag’s Ross Moyo
People ask me why I volunteer.
I wear many hats — travel, biking, women’s biking club worldwide — but one heart: KidzCan.
3. Many people say “I can’t handle seeing sick children” — how do you handle it?
4. Are you volunteering because of a personal experience with cancer?
Every February we raise money through travel. Through biking we clear cupboards, kitchens, books. We ask: how can we entertain these kids? What can we do to make their life easier? And the carers’ lives too?
The kids love the bikers. They love to sit on the bikes.
I am twice a survivor of cancer as an adult. I felt lonely. I wasn’t heard. No one to explain to me, or listen.
The Work on the Ground
5. What exactly do you do as a volunteer day-to-day? Is it playing with kids, counselling parents, helping with hospital runs?
6. What is the hardest moment you have ever faced as a volunteer?
7. What is the most beautiful, unforgettable moment you have had with a child?
8. How do you support parents who have just been told their child has cancer?
Now imagine little kids. Some can’t even talk. How do they understand chemo? Needles?
At Rainbow Children’s Village, they have a place which is safe. Colourful rainbows. Good and comforted. They don’t worry about bus fare, food, clothes.
Challenges & Realities
9. People think volunteering is easy — what are the real challenges? Emotional burnout, transport, resources?
10. Have you ever lost a child you were close to? How did you cope?
11. What do children with cancer teach you about life that we who are healthy don’t understand?
KidzCan & WestProp Support
12. How has support from organizations like WestProp and KidzCan made your work as a volunteer easier?
13. What gap do volunteers fill that doctors and nurses cannot fill?
14. If you had more volunteers tomorrow, what would you ask them to do?
I heard stories of carers coming with just the clothes they were wearing. No nappies. No sanitary towels.
We can help with that.
KidzCan & WestProp Support
12. How has support from organizations like WestProp and KidzCan made your work as a volunteer easier?
13. What gap do volunteers fill that doctors and nurses cannot fill?
14. If you had more volunteers tomorrow, what would you ask them to do?
We had a party in September. Motorbikes arrived. Music. Kids doing all sorts of things. A sister said, please sugar high with all these kids. I said, it’s only once. It’s only once when we do it.
Call to Action – Powerful for Fundraising
15. Why should a young person in Harare choose to volunteer instead of just posting on social media?
16. What would you say to someone here tonight who wants to help but thinks “I have nothing to give”?
17. If you could ask the audience for ONE thing — not money, but something human — what would you ask for?
18. After all you have seen, what does “hope” mean to you?
But that once keeps them going for months.
KidzCan is in my heart forever.
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