At the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), we see about 600 late-stage adult cancer patients every year and the number has been increasing. When faced with potential terminal cancers, many patients may have unfulfilled dreams that are important to them and their families. As most wish-granting organisations are focused on helping children, our goal is to fill in the gap and help adult cancer patients achieve their dreams as well.
Thus, in conjunction with the NCIS' 10th Year Anniversary in 2018, we launched the NCIS Dream Makers, a new initiative to help NCIS patients with advanced cancers fulfill their dreams. Our goal is to help our advanced cancer patients fulfill their dreams and give hope and encouragement towards their cancer journey. This also gives us an opportunity to improve their quality of lives beyond just clinical care.
We listen to our patients' dreams and we want to help make them come true. Through the NCIS Dream Makers, we want our patients to know that there is life beyond cancer and add some cheer and positivity to their fight with cancer!
The NCIS Dream Makers are made up of NCIS staff and a group of volunteers comprising doctors, healthcare professionals, NGOs, corporate bodies and ordinary people from all walks of lives who are passionate in helping our patients achieve their dreams. We are guided by the firm belief that by helping others, we discover the meaning of caring and togetherness that will bring out fulfilment in our own lives.
Join us as a volunteer, and help bring hope to our patients' lives by turning their dreams into reality!
Find out more about how you can volunteer below.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, goes a long way in helping our patients achieve their dreams.
Cheque / Cash Donation via NUHS Fund Limited
NFL Gift Form - Dream Makers (with BRS) Mar2020
Please fill up the Gift Form and mail it to:
NUHS Development Office, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 13, Singapore 119228
*As a registered charity organisation that has Institute of Public Character status, all donations to the Dream Makers qualify for a 250% tax deduction for 2020.
Provide the support that we need in helping our patients achieve their dreams by making available your business expertise, products and services in fulfilling the dream. For a discussion on how you can collaborate with us, contact [email protected] for more information today!
Eligible patients are referred to the NCIS Dream Makers by their healthcare professionals at NCIS.
If you are an NCIS patient and wish to have your dream fulfilled, speak to your healthcare staff.
MR HARIS
Mr Haris, a stage 4 bladder cancer patient, has 4 children who are all married and are living apart with their own nuclear family. He last worked as a security officer and stopped in 2020 due to Covid-19. He spent his younger days working hard to feed his family members, and prior to the pandemic, the family would have frequent gatherings.
As an involved fatherly figure in the household, Mr Haris is dearly-loved by his family. Despite his deteriorating condition, the NCIS Dream Makers managed to fulfil his dream of glamping by the sea with his extended family of 24 members. They enjoyed a good bonding time around the glamping tent with a BBQ and music.
MR CHEONG
"Having this staycation dream come true is so important to the both of us. I'm glad for the wonderful opportunity and excited that this initiative will continue to help other patients like me."
With the help of our donors, the late Mr Cheong and his wife spent a meaningful 2-night stay at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, including a sumptuous meal with some of his favorite dishes two weeks before passing away.
Mr Cheong Peng Yam was a 64 year old patient who was on best supportive care and had a poor prognosis. His main motivation for accepting treatment was to maintain his physical functions as well as to spend more time with his wife. He was worried about leaving her behind and alone after he passed on, and his dream to travel with her had been compounded by his diagnosis and numerous hospital trips.
In his better days, his daily routine was to go to work and earn a regular income, usually returning home at night. He did not get to spend much quality time with his wife and missed out things he enjoyed doing, such as gardening & having a good meal. The fulfilling of his dream was his wish to create some fond memories as a way of remembrance for his wife.
JOSEPH LEE
One of the patients who has benefited from the Dream Makers Initiative is Mr Joseph Lee, whose dream was featured in episode 4 of the “The Wish" on Channel 5, on 9 January 2019. "The Wish" is an info-educational television series by MediaCorp, featuring stories of people with serious health conditions who have a wish to fulfil. Knowing that Joseph always had an unfulfilled promise he made to his late grandmother, NCIS Dream Makers worked hard and collaborated with other partners to turn his dream into a reality.
Joseph has been battling brain cancer since 19 years old, and his late grandmother was always there for him. Being very close with her, Joseph once promised that they would explore Hokkaido together. However, this was never fulfilled until 2018, we made his dream come true.
Watch how Joseph overcomes his physical challenges and experience an adventure beyond his expectations in a 4D3N Hokkaido trip with his parents here.
MS LOO
Ms Loo often felt alone when she first started her journey with cancer. Along the way, she developed a close friendship with her counsellor, Mrs Margaret Ho, who then introduced her to her pastoral team colleagues at Oasis, a church plant of Barker Road Methodist Church. The tireless assistance and friendship from Margaret and the pastoral team, together with support from the church community made Ms Loo realize, she is not as alone as she felt after all. To appreciate their contributions and show her gratitude toward this meaningful friendship, Ms Loo dreamed of organising a special "Thank You" dinner for them.
The Dream Makers team worked together with Assisi Hospice and private chef, Chef Naughty Rabbit to make this dream come true. During the dinner, Ms Loo thanked her friends with personally handwritten cards and attended a worship session with them. They enjoyed the sumptuous dinner prepared by Chef Naughty Rabbit who presented steaks and desserts which she has missed eating since her battle with cancer. At the end of the dinner, she professed a heartfelt thank you to the people who had accompanied her throughout the journey. Ms Loo wished to inspire those with similar experiences as her with this one message: "You may think you are alone on this journey, you are not".
For more information about the NCIS Dream Makers, email [email protected].
NCIS Dream Makers was awarded the Singapore Patient Engagement Initiative Award in October 2021, a category under the Singapore Patient Action Awards. This award recognises an outstanding patient engagement project or initiative that is in collaboration with the health care team, intermediate and long-term care teams (ILTC) and/or social service agency; contributing to the improvements of care for patients, caregivers, residents and/or the community.
Congratulations to our NCIS Dream Makers team on winning the award!
