Ben's wrapped to help CanTeen

Lindy Laird | 21st October 2009

Ben Iggo isn't too keen on public speaking but he'll do it if he has to. His sisters tease him about how he likes to hold the floor. He says only if it does some good, and right now the cancer survivor wants to do as much good as he can for CanTeen.

Without stopping their good-natured sibling taunts, the three Iggo kids - Ben (18), Gina (15) and Katie (12) - get down on the floor for a photo shoot, surrounded by CanTeen bandannas.

CanTeen is a networking, social and outdoor activities club for teenage cancer victims and their siblings, including the bereaved siblings and children of people who have lost their battle with cancer. This week is its main fundraising Bandanna Appeal.

Ben is a past president of the fairly new Northland CanTeen branch. He speaks highly of the benefits for members - fun, travel, camps, support and friendship among youngsters who, if not for cancer, might have never met. And, if not for CanTeen may feel isolated by their experience.

"CanTeen very much broke through the barriers of isolation and the lack of a social life for me," Ben says. His illness is behind him, the acute lymphoblastic leukemia that pounced on him in 2003 has been "past remission" for two years.

Articulate and wise, the lad is well aware of the affect the serious illness had on a boy just getting into his teens, and the impact on his family.

Even though Katie was only a little girl when he first became sick she was a particular help to him, Ben says.

"We were basically slaves for him," Katie cheerily flashes back.

For two years there were long months at Auckland's Starship Hospital, chemo, radiation therapy, vomiting, boredom, no sport, no social life, correspondence school. 

There are some theme tunes from TV shows that can make Ben feel physically ill, so strongly does he associate them with  chemotherapy unable to do anything but watch the box, and vomit a lot.

CanTeen offers a chance to talk over those kinds of feelings and experiences with other youngsters in the same boat, Ben says.

Katie has been a keen fundraiser for CanTeen even though, until she turns 13, she's too young to belong. At 15, Gina's a veteran supporter who says she's had some wicked times at CanTeen gatherings. Ben says it's unbelievable  how much better those get-togethers make you feel when you are  very sick.

And that's the crux of the matter. Cancer alters, takes, irrevocably affects young people's lives ... but, when you boil it down, for any teenager life is not about illness, it's about living.

"I'd like to help get the message across that if people support CanTeen they can help teenagers with cancer do all sorts of amazing things," Ben says.

CanTeen bandannas are $4 each, and on sale  throughout Northland this week.