Ebene Joining Hands Fundraising Campaign

Abstract

Amount raised: 641,704 Mauritian rupees Background and context: Link to Life Cancer Support Centre, is the first cancer NGO that has been founded in 2012 in Mauritius. With the increasing rate of cancer, 2607 new cases in 2016, it a must for us to sensitize, prevent and provide screening for cancer. As a cancer support association, it is quite difficult to get funds for the running of the NGO as well as the various activities. Apart from the CSR (corporate social responsibility) that some companies willingly give to us we have to innovate in creating novel fundraising campaign each year. The Ebene Joining Hands also known as the Ebene Chain is an innovative fundraising campaign that was performed in June 2016. Ebene is a suburb on the island of Mauritius and this region has been promoted as being the new information technology hub. It is a cluster of modern skyscrapers from afar with more than 150 to 200 companies. Link to Life campaign was mainly to collaborate with the various companies in Ebene to raise funds for one of our main projects which is free transport facilities to cancer patients. Aim: Create awareness on cancer and related activities of the NGO. Make the companies contribute toward the fight against cancer. Sensitize the public in general about cancer. The Ebene Joining Hands - uniting our force together “hand in hand” we are able to give a helping hand to cancer patients. Break the taboo on cancer/common cancer myths. Empower cancer beneficiaries. Strategy/Tactics: Create a cancer support truck whereby cancer patients and survivors will be in it. The truck will then drive along a predestined track which will cover the entire Ebene hub region. With the help of two main companies Minerva Fiduciary Ltd. and Afrasia Bank, we have been able to create a successful fundraising campaign. The various companies in Ebene were contacted to introduce them the fundraising project. The said company will have to contribute to a minimum fee of 2500 Mauritian rupees and at the same time, we would sensitize their staff to participate in the Ebene Joining Hands event, whereby they will be on the track, hold the hands of the person next to them, waiting for the cancer support truck to pass by. They will then lift their hands up and applaud by welcoming the cancer survivors on the truck. Timing of the event was taken into consideration. Since most of the employees were during their working time, we had to fix the event during lunch time for a period of 30 to 45 minutes (i.e., from noon to 1:45 pm). Costs: Rs. 130,000 What was learned: Preparation for such event will have to be done well in advance. Attitude is everything. All participants were here to show their support. The patients were proud to have participated to the campaign and were deeply moved by the welcome that they have received on the streets.