Please see list of donations required at the bottom of the post
The CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge offers support of Steve Biko and other local hospital’s paediatric oncology units in Pretoria and offers home-from-home accommodation to all parents / guardians of children or teens undergoing cancer treatment, in Pretoria and surrounds.
The majority of families that make use of the lodge are from Mpumalanga and neighbouring countries.
Parents and guardians may stay free of charge for the duration of their child or teen’s treatment and 50 beds are available for them to use. The lodge is open all year.
Location
The lodge is ideal for parents / gurardians who stay far away from treatment centres or who struggle with transport costs when taking their child for treatment.
The CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge is situated on the premises of Tshwane District hospital, within walking distance of the Steve Biko cancer ward.
Address: Gate 7, CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge, Steve Biko Hospital, Pretoria
The distance from Unitas hospital is 13 km; from Pretoria East Hospital 20 km, from Little Company of Mary hospital 7,2 km and from Dr George Mukhari hospital, 31 km away.
Queries
For bookings or more information regarding accommodation for parents / guardians of children / teens receiving treatment for cancer, contact Vera van Dalen, email: tlc@cansa.org.za
Capacity
Accommodation to one or both parents, and siblings on occasion. Live in accommodation is available to those parents / children who cannot go home between treatments.
We have 50 beds in en-suite family rooms, as well as single, double, and triple bed rooms with communal facilities.
Some rooms do have a cot catering for a baby, as many battle with a diagnosed child while having a small sibling who needs support also.
Laundry facilities are available for all ward patients and parents.
Parking is available on the premises.
Meals
Prepared meals and a coffee / tea station are available.
TLC Services Offered:
- One-on-one trauma support / counselling / grief support is provided.
- Support groups may be attended.
- Food parcels and toiletries are provided as available, when needed by patients or parents / guardians.
- Prosthetic support is available (eyes).
- Arts & crafts activities are also offered to help pass the time constructively.
- Information group sessions (training regarding cancer signs & symptoms in children; dietary information and education; pain and symptom control and ‘end of life’ care) are held.
By offering information sessions once or twice weekly, in addition to individual trauma counselling any time it is required, the staff aim to empower parents.
Families can go home with a food parcel to help provide essential nutrition that will help a child to recover while at home.
Many families arrive without the needed toiletries, sufficient clothing for a long stay or personal hygiene products.
It is our aim to help with what we can, when we can.
Workshops may be arranged by workplaces, sponsors or volunteers who wish to learn more and to become involved.
Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) number – Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA): 130001397
Non Profit Organisation Registration number – Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA): 000-524 NPO
Pieter Cowdrey: “I would like to thank the angels of the CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge.
You guys stood by me when I thought the world was ending, from the first week we found out about Cole’s sarcoma, right through everything else and up until this morning, I would not have have been here today without you guys.
I don’t know the right words, the words you guys deserve. I can only say thank you so much to the ladies at CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge, thank you for saving me.”
Mom of child who passed away: “We had amazing support staying at Nicus Lodge: receiving a wheelchair after multiple amputations; receiving emotional and prayer support; food parcels and so much love.
We are family and I feel welcome to visit again and again. Thank you so much. Thank you also for loving my child and supporting him so well.”
Mama Gosiame, Mama Jahn and Mama Hayley say: “Knowing we can bring our small children with, to support our diagnosed children is wonderful.
No one else offered us this option of support. It is hard when you have more small children and you need to focus on one, but you have no where to turn with the siblings.
When you are a single parent it makes it even more difficult. Thank you Nicus Lodge for allowing us this. There are many others who benefit this way.
We say thank you for all of them for the privilege to stay in this beautiful facility.”
CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge was visited by SABC Real Talk with Anele on #MandelaDay 2017
Meet Some of our Parents
About CANSA’s TLC Nicus Lodge
CANSA TLC Nicus Tree where each child’s name is written on a leaf…
Negotiations for CANSA’s TLC Nicus Lodge started in 2001 and agreements were finalised towards the end of 2006.
The Gauteng Provincial Government signed a written agreement with CANSA, earmarking the “Gwaranang Building” (at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria) as a paediatric oncology lodging facility in the form of CANSA TLC Nicus Lodge.
The facility was initiated and dedicated to the memory of Nicus van Dalen, childhood cancer patient, and son of Vera van Dalen, who sadly passed away, with the aim of helping children diagnosed into the future, and providing accommodation for parents so that they would not be separated from their children, while they received treatment.
Van Dalen approached sponsors and raised funds for renovations of the building and became a member of the CANSA family in 2007.
A special word of thanks to the following sponsors who contributed: SAAB, Round Table 136, Kerksondermure, TFMC, KPMG, Lions Pretoria Host, Lions Pretoria Suid, Fercor, Manager Construction, Heunis Geute en Woolworths Eldoraigne.
Before & After Renovations
The opening of CANSA’s TLC Nicus Lodge at the Steve Biko Hospital in Pretoria, took place on the 3rd of August 2010.
It was the first facility of its kind offering accommodation for the whole family of diagnosed children.
CANSA and the Lodge were awarded the 2010 ‘Excellence in Service Delivery Award’ presented by the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Since it has opened its doors, the facility has offered support 24 / 7 and is open all year round, as cancer does not rest during holidays.
Previous CEO CANSA, Sue Janse van Rensburg (left) and Vera Van Dalen (right) at the launch…
CANSA’s TLC Programme
Learn more about CANSA’s Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) programme…
Be a Gift to a Child in Need:
Please consider making a donation towards supporting our TLC programme so that we can help more children and families.
Donations will assist with the provision of prosthetic support (children who have lost an eye or limb); the provision of wheelchairs; pain control implants and medical equipment.
Food, clothing and toiletry donations are always welcome…
Support Resources for cancer Survivors & Loved Ones
Parents / guardians of young cancer patients are invited to join our FBK Support Group: CANSA TLC: Childhood Cancer Support or they and their children / teens are welcome to join an age appropriate support group by submitting the online form.
Find additional online resources for cancer Survivors (anyone who has heard the words ‘you have cancer’) or loved ones, and about coping with cancer.
Make an appointment for free CANSA Tele Counselling with a trained CANSA counsellor by submitting the online booking form.
This is a confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling service to cancer patients (adult / child / teen), caregivers and their families and parents or guardians of children living with cancer.
Counselling is available in seven languages (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana and Sepedi) and is free of charge.
Food and clothing donations are always welcome…
2024 – In-Kind Donations Required:
- to follow…
Contact Vera van Dalen tlc@cansa.org.za regarding in kind donations…
