VOBOC Equips AYAs Throughout the Cancer Journey
Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer face unique challenges. Many do not have the resources, family support or knowledge in how to deal with the cancer journey ahead.
VOBOC delivers free Vo-Pak backpacks to hospital oncology units. Each Vo-Pak contains practical items for a hospital stay as well as tools and resources to help patients in navigating the health care system and in accessing supportive services.
VOBOC delivers free Vo-Pak backpacks to Montréal Hospitals
Health care providers deliver the Vo-Pak to their AYA cancer patients on their first day of treatment. This gift helps Equip each patient with tools and resources and expresses caring and kindness at a very difficult time. It is the first step to Engaging the patient in their health care plan.
Cedars Cancer Centre (MUHC)Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-JustineHôpital Maisonneuve-RosemontJewish General HospitalLachine General HospitalLakeshore General HospitalMontréal Children’s HospitalMontréal Neurological Institute and HospitalSt. Mary’s Hospital
The Vo-Pak Includes:
- Warm, comfortable clothing for a hospital stay
- A blanket to make the hospital feel more like home
- A water bottle to encourage regular hydration
- A toiletry kit including some special items
- Abbott Nutrition Ensure® for added nutrition
- Information on support services and resources
- $50 gift card to spend on something enjoyable and distracting
- Lé♥n, the VOBOC Lion for courage
The Vo-Pak Impact
“VOBOC gets it when no one else does.”
A patient newly diagnosed with cancer received a VOBOC Vo-Pak from her medical team. Her mother said: “It was a lifeline. It represented love, compassion, caring and kindness. It was like a big hug. It meant everything to my daughter. We were so depleted. This gift filled us back up. Even though she was extremely sick and in pain, we vowed not to give up.”
Vo-Pak Program
VOBOC delivers Vo-Pak backpacks to the hospital oncology units for them to give to their new AYA cancer patients on their first day of treatment.
Each Vo-Pak contains practical items for a hospital stay as well as tools and resources to help patients in navigating the health care system and in accessing supportive services.