faces. The children were able to relate the experience of
losing their best teamplayer to that of losing their significant
other and were encouraged to express those feelings
through a creative expressive activity.
Subsequently, the children had no choice but to continue
playing without their best teammate. However, they were
given a choice to select a player from the opposing team to
support them in the game. While the game was definitely
more challenging than before, the players felt comforted to
hear their team mates cheering for them on the sidelines
throughout thematch. It reminded them that they will never
be alone on this grief journey as their deceased loved one
will always be cheering for themwherever they are! Being
in a team alsomade the children realise that they can reach
out for support from the people around them. In doing so,
they can draw strength to cope in their journey of grief.
Thereafter, a video montage of their loved ones was
screened for the participants, much to their surprise! The
dayendedwithparticipantsdesigning their veryown jerseys
to honour and remember their loved ones.
‘’GameofLife’’was the theme for thechildhoodbereavement
group work conducted for 17 CCF beneficiaries who had
lost their loved ones to cancer. The sessionwas conducted
on 16 July 2016 to allow children impacted by cancer
to express their pent up feelings and build relationships
and support within the group. It is also a safe space for
children to honour and remember their loved ones who
had passed on.
Using soccer todrawparallels to theprocessandexperience
of losing their loved ones, the session started with children
writing names of their deceased family member on their
sports bib. The bibs acted as a visual reminder for the
children to remember that their deceased lovedonewaswith
them throughout thegame.Under thesupervisionof acoach,
the players proceeded towarm up and play several matches
tounderstand eachother’s competencies in the sport.
Needless to say, it came as a shock when the coach
announced that the best player from each team would not
be allowed to play subsequently! At this point, feelings of
shock, denial, sadnessandanger surfacedon the children’s
GameofLife
Youwill neverwalkalone
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