Zichron Menachem ("Memorial for Menachem") is the

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

for the support of children with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

and their families. It offers immediate, practical and long-term solutions to the wide range of problems that must be overcome from the moment that a child has been diagnosed with

. It also provides support to children who have a parent living with cancer. The organization is headquartered in

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

and operates in all major Israeli hospitals with

pediatric Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the ...

oncology Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (''ó ...

hematology Hematology ( always spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves treating diseases that affect the produc ...

wards.

History

Menachem Ehrental was an Israeli boy who battled cancer from the age of 2 until his death at age 15. Menachem's parents, Chaim and Miri Ehrental founded Zichron Menachem as a

with the mission of easing the suffering of young cancer patients and their families. By 2006, Zichron Menachem has helped thousands of children and families. It has an extensive network of hundreds of professionally trained volunteers in every part of

Programs

All Zichron Menachem programs, activities and facilities are offered free-of-charge to children stricken with cancer, and their families, regardless of their

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

, ethnic origin or socio-economic status. Its programs include: *

Support group In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping str ...

s for parents, bereaved parents and children * Big brothers and big sisters * Permanent hospital staffing * Three annual adventure camps * Weekly parties * Fun days * Reservoir of

blood products A blood product is any therapeutic substance prepared from human blood. This includes whole blood; blood components; and plasma derivatives. Whole blood is not commonly used in transfusion medicine. Blood components include: red blood cell concen ...

* Guesthouse * Hair wigs for cancer patients, made from hair donated by volunteers * Lending library * Psycho-social and professional support * Advocacy

Day center

The Zichron Menachem Day Center in

is an educational, recreational and rehabilitation center dedicated for the exclusive use of children with cancer and their families. Many of these children have suppressed immune systems due to chemotherapy, and in order to protect their already fragile health, they cannot always attend school and social events. The center offers these children a clean environment where they continue their studies, undergo specific therapies and enjoy a wide range of fun and entertaining activities. Music, computers, art, rocketry, sports, photography and journalism are but a few of the many extracurricular activities offered to the children. The Day Center offers these same activities to the sick child’s brothers and sisters during the afternoon and early evening hours.

Awards

In recognition of its humanitarian activities, Zichron Menachem has been awarded with awards, including: * Israel President's ''Prize for Volunteers'' * Israel Prime Minister's ''Child Protector Award'' * Israel Health Minister's ''Prize for Volunteers'' (2000, Chaim and Miri Ehrental, 2006, Zohar Hala) * The Mayor of Jerusalem’s ''Citation for Volunteers'' * Order of Orange-Nassau Knight's Medal from Queen Beatrix (I) of the Netherlands (Mrs. Borie Maarsen)

Organization

Zichron Menachem is a registered nonprofit, charitable organization in Israel, the USA, and the United Kingdom. ''Friends of Zichron Menachem'' organizations and committees in the USA ('The Children's Bridge of Zichron Menachem'), UK, and Europe help support Zichron Menachem's programs, activities and facilities.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Cancer organizations based in Israel Charities based in Israel Volunteer organizations in Israel