Sarah was just one of many students at Maramba Primary School to gain a better understanding of childhood cancer.By Rebecca Fraser
STUDENTS at Maramba Primary School in Narre Warren learned about childhood cancer when the McDonald’s Camp Quality Puppet Show visited their school.
The show is based on two puppet children, Kylie and Matthew.
Kylie is bald as a result of chemotherapy treatment and Matthew’s leg was amputated when he contracted a bone tumour.
The show is usually performed at schools where a child has recently had cancer treatment and aims to reduce the risk of possible teasing, fear and ostracism when the child returns to class. Principal Darrell Mullins said the puppet visit helped students better understand childhood cancer.
“It is an extremely good idea to have these visits so that students can gain an understanding of some of the difficulties associated with living with cancer,” he said.
The free puppet show is funded by McDonald’s owner-operators in Victoria.
McDonald’s Berwick owner-operator, Ian Seal, said the puppet show helped dispel the fear and myths about childhood cancer, and explained how children returning to school after a long illness need lots of love and support.
“In Victoria over 200,000 children from prep school through to grade six have seen the puppets in the past 14 years. Nationally the audience figure is over two million,” he said.
