Cross-Disease Patient Fellowship Event

 Our organization and the Taiwan Organization For Disadvantaged Patients held the "2024 Cross-Disease Experience Day Fellowship Event for Rare and Disadvantaged Patients" at the Tomita Garden Farm in Taoyuan on May 19th. The event gathered 104 participants, including 94 patients, their families, and volunteers.
 
The event began with a guided tour where participants learned about different animals. The animals were very gentle and friendly, providing a rare opportunity for the patients to have close contact with such a variety of creatures which brought much joy to the patients. This was followed by a stunning African acrobatics performance that amazed everyone. In the afternoon, participants experienced horse riding and took a small train ride around the park. They then engaged in a DIY session making felt crafts, stitching pieces of fabric together, and adding cute decorations to create alpaca-themed non-woven bags.
 
A total of 30 families representing 22 different diseases joined this event, providing an opportunity for participants to connect with others in similar situations and learn about different diseases. Despite each disease's challenges,it reminded everyone that they are not alone on this difficult journey. Having companions on this path has significantly lightened their burdens.
 
We would like to extend our gratitude to Wen-Zhen, a dedicated volunteer from the Taichung, who has been raising funds and resources to support cross-disease fellowship events for nine consecutive years since 2015. We also thank volunteer Mi-Ya for raising funds and recruiting volunteers to assist with the event, helping families enjoy a joyful time together.

Translator: Jia-Yi Huang
Reviewer: Joy Yin