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Érintettek – Parents’ Association for Children Affected by Childhood Cancer
As our name suggests, the founders of our Association are mainly parents of children who have been treated for childhood cancer or leukemia. Our president is Dr. Erika Borszekiné Cserháti, joined by two vice presidents, Anita Keresztes and Dr. Péter Hauser. Erika and Anita are both mothers of three, each having a child who has faced childhood cancer, while Péter Hauser is a pediatric oncologist.
Our community brings together parents, survivors, doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, and other dedicated individuals. What unites us all is that we do this work entirely on a volunteer basis, alongside our regular jobs, driven purely by care and compassion.
The Association was born out of a simple but powerful desire – to give back some of the support we once received during our own journeys through treatment. We couldn’t just stand by after witnessing the challenges families face and realizing how much could be improved with just a little more attention, energy, and love.
In 2016, we came together and formed the Érintettek Association. There’s really no perfect English translation for Érintettek – it roughly means “those who are affected” or “those who are touched.”
We like to say we are enthusiastic amateurs. This isn’t our profession, but it’s our calling. And while we’re not full-time professionals, we ensure that all our programs and activities are fully aligned with medical and professional standards — with medical authenticity guaranteed by Dr. Péter Hauser.
As the saying goes, “every cloud has a silver lining.” For us, the friendships we’ve formed through this journey are exactly that — the silver lining of the hardships we’ve faced. We’re proud and grateful to be a community that always has each other’s back.
How We Support Families During Treatment
Our programs that bring comfort, information, and hope to children and parents through the most challenging times.
Storybook: Easing Fear Through Familiar Stories
Our first major program was a storybook for children called ‘Bravery Test’, later translated into English and Ukrainian. It tells the story of four brave children on their path to healing, each facing a different illness. The illustrations are based on the largest Onco-Hematology Centre of the country, and they are realistic and recognizable, so that young readers can identify their hospital environment. This little book helps ease the fear of the unknown – not only for children but for parents too.
Érintettek’s Book: Reliable Information for Parents
Our second major project was the Érintettek’s Book, an information guide created for families of children with cancer. When we first faced the disease, we were terrified and overwhelmed by the unreliable information on the internet. This book was our answer to that.
Every word was reviewed, approved, or written by the medical professionals we trust. It’s both authentic and personal, as many parents also contributed their experiences. Written in clear, accessible language, it helps families understand what’s happening without needing to wait for answers or interpret medical jargon.
Over 30 families shared comments, practical tips, and advice in each chapter. The book covers the most common childhood cancers, symptoms, treatments, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, psychological and social topics, and everyday life issues like hygiene, pets, and schooling.
Érintettek’s Chain Program: Beads of Courage
Inspired by the international Beads of Courage movement, the Érintettek’s Chain Program runs in every pediatric oncology center in Hungary. Each child receives a starter kit with a thread and a small “healing elf.” For every step of their therapy, they add a new bead — a beautiful and symbolic way to mark their courage and progress throughout treatment.
Today, when a child is diagnosed with cancer in Hungary, they receive the Érintettek Info Pack – completely free of charge. It contains our Storybook (Bravery Test), the Érintettek Book, and the Chain of Courage kit. From the very first days of treatment, children and parents can feel that they are not alone — that there is a hand to hold and a community to lean on.
Érintettek Award: Honoring Our Healers
Founded in 2016, the Érintettek Award expresses our deepest gratitude toward the professionals who dedicate their lives to healing. Each year, we recognize one doctor and one healthcare worker — such as a nurse, psychologist, or physiotherapist — for their extraordinary kindness, attention, and humanity. The award includes a small financial recognition.
Every Advent season, we celebrate with an award ceremony where children perform for their healers – singing, dancing, playing instruments, and sharing heartfelt messages in videos. It is one of our most emotional traditions, filled with joy, gratitude, and the shared spirit of healing.
Healing Conversations Podcast: Building Trust Through Stories
Healing Conversations is our podcast series, a long-held dream come true. Three professional reporters interview doctors, nurses, and psychologists, giving parents a chance to get to know the people who care for their children.
We believe trust is one of the most important elements of healing. In each episode, healers share their personal stories — about their families, hobbies, why they chose this work, and how they recover from its challenges. We also speak with survivors and parents, whose honest reflections help others overcome fear and doubt.
The series also explores scientific topics and innovations in childhood cancer treatment, filling a real gap in communication. All episodes are available on our website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
Excursions: Finding Strength in Togetherness
Our Érintettek Excursions are among our most beloved programs. We organize them once or twice a year as family outings where everyone – children, parents, and siblings – can spend time together outside the hospital environment.
These trips have two main goals: First, to offer a relaxed, joyful day full of connection, laughter, and nature. And second, to encourage families who are still in treatment to meet those whose children have recovered — to see with their own eyes that there is hope, there is future, and healing is possible.
We spend these days walking, talking, playing, and sharing meals – simply enjoying being together.
Érintettek Help Line: Compassionate Listening in Crisis
The Érintettek Help Line offers professional support for families in need. Created by two of our wonderful colleagues — Szilvia and Bogi, both Lutheran pastors and mental health professionals — it provides a safe, compassionate space for anyone affected.
Parents, relatives, and friends can call to share feelings, seek advice, or find comfort in moments of crisis. The goal is simple but powerful: to remind every caller that they are not alone.
Érintettek Blood Donation Days: Giving Back Together
Our Blood Donation Days began as a simple idea and quickly grew into a beloved community event. Blood donation is vital in the healing process, and we consider every first-time donor a success story.
These days are more than medical — they are social gatherings where families, friends, and volunteers come together to give, connect, and celebrate life. There’s always laughter, good food, and the shared joy of knowing that together, we make a difference.
One of our latest programs is the late effects and follow up care homepage, which is unique in Hungary. We came up with the name utana.hu (means after.com) to cover the project, and it refers to the wholeness of this matter because we wanted to collect everything to one place, which comes after the active treatment period, a place where civil people can have an impression on follow up care. We didn’t want to be too professional, too medical, but neither too emotional or too scary for people who are undergoing or underwent cancer treatment. Although we created the homepage with professional help, the aim is to promote it for civil people, parents, and survivors.
One of our latest programs is the late effects and follow up care homepage, which is unique in Hungary. We came up with the name utana.hu (means after.com) to cover the project, and it refers to the wholeness of this matter because we wanted to collect everything to one place, which comes after the active treatment period, a place where civil people can have an impression on follow up care. We didn’t want to be too professional, too medical, but neither too emotional or too scary for people who are undergoing or underwent cancer treatment. Although we created the homepage with professional help, the aim is to promote it for civil people, parents, and survivors.
There are
- encouraging words from us,
- just as descriptions of the most common late effects and implications on their emergence,
- possibility to get to know other survivors
- news and articles on important follow up care events and organisations
- comforting and motivating stories of survivors
- and Dr. Hauser also prepared detailed guidelines for general doctors who deal with adults and can have patients coming in saying “I’ve had neuroblastoma when I was 2, what do you think I need to have regularly controlled?”
We organised a mini conference to promote its launch with a lot of our most appreciated doctors and healthcare professionals giving presentations on the most important topics, these videos can be watched in the site as well.