Children suffering from cancer in treatment at hospitals in Hanoi were given hundreds of toys during an early celebration of the upcoming International Children’s Day on Sunday.

Members of “Uoc Mo Cua Thuy” (Thuy’s Dream), a charity project backed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, visited three oncology hospitals in Hanoi and handed over a combined 480 gifts to children patients there.

The project also gave 120 ATM cards with a balance of VND5 million (US$220) each to needy patients.

“Uoc Mo Cua Thuy” was initiated by Tuoi Tre in 2007 to pursue the dream to help motivate people diagnosed with cancer of Le Thanh Thuy, a young woman who had passed away after four years of fighting with the deadly illness.

Sunday’s event was held to give children with cancer an early celebration of International Children’s Day (June 1).

Parents shed tears when seeing their children share toys to each other and play together in happiness as if all the pain caused by cancer had gone away.

Phung Ngoc Son, whose two-year-old son was diagnosed with blood cancer, expressed gratitude toward kind-hearted people as he saw his child smile joyfully even though he has been suffering from the pain in the hospital for over four months.

“Parents’ happiness depends on their children’s,” he said.

Huyen Anh, a 16-month-old girl whose body was attached to a lot of syringes for an intravenous drip, held a brand-new doll in her arms while humming along an old bedtime song to lure her ‘baby’ to sleep.

“This is the most meaningful day for both children and parents here,” said Anh’s mother.

Another girl named Phuong Anh shared her toys to other children, sending a message that they will hold each other’s hands and get over illness together no matter what might happen.

“This year’s Children’s Day is more special since I get to enjoy new toys with my friends,” her eyes gleamed with optimism.

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