For children going through cancer treatment, life can quickly become a routine of hospital visits, appointments and things that no child should really have to worry about.
That is why a simple day out can mean rather a lot.
Recently, 14 children and 12 family members enjoyed a visit to the Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden in Güímar, organised by the Tenerife charity Pequeño Valiente.
The charity supports children with cancer and their families, giving them opportunities to get out, meet other people and, for a few hours at least, forget about hospitals and treatment.
More than just a day out
Ten-year-old Néstor has overcome his illness but is still involved with Pequeño Valiente. He has already enjoyed some of the charity’s summer activities, including a recent visit to Santa Cruz’s Maritime Park.
This time, the outing was a little different.
The families were given a free guided tour of the Güímar park by guide Isabelle Schmitt, learning about its founder, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, and the history behind the site.
For the children, it was a chance to explore somewhere new. For the parents and grandparents, it was also an opportunity to spend time together without everything revolving around medical appointments.
Sometimes that is enough.
A support network when it’s needed most
Five-year-old Sebastián attended with his mother, Laura Dau. The family discovered Pequeño Valiente during Sebastián’s treatment and have remained part of the charity ever since.
Laura praised the organisation for the support it gives not only to the children but also to their families.
And that seems to be a big part of what makes these activities important. Cancer affects the whole family, not just the person receiving treatment.
Lisa Chacón, whose daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia as a newborn, also spoke about the positive support the charity has provided during some extremely difficult periods.
Creating moments that feel normal
Pequeño Valiente organises a range of activities throughout the year, including summer camps, excursions and special projects for children and teenagers.
Last year, a group of teenagers even travelled to Cantabria for an adventure camp.
The aim isn’t to pretend the difficult stuff doesn’t exist. It is simply to make sure there is room for some fun alongside it.
Around 1,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer in Spain each year, with approximately 50 new cases in the Canary Islands.
The numbers are sobering. But organisations like Pequeño Valiente help make sure that families facing those challenges are not doing it alone.
And sometimes, a day spent exploring a park, learning something new and having a laugh with other families can be exactly what everyone needed.