It was sunny and breezy on March 2, 2002 when more than 340 patients, their families and medical care personnel attended the annual gathering at Madam Shaw's Hall of the Prince of Wales Hospital.

This gathering was a special salute to the "Brave Little Life Warriors". The representative from the Suen Chi Sun Charitable Foundation started off the event by presenting copies of the newly published The Stories of Childhood Cancer Survivors to the first patient successfully treated at the Lady Pao Children's Cancer Centre, the first patient to have undergone bone marrow transplant operation and representative of the medical staff of the Centre.

This was followed by a simple but solemn ceremony to mark the establishment of the "Childhood Cancer Patients and Parents Association" (The name is changed to "Little Life Warrior Society"). This organization, which is still in its infant stage, is aimed at promoting communications among childhood cancer patients in the Centre and their families so that they can provide greater mutual support and encouragement to each other.

The most moving events were when two young persons recounted their experiences and feelings during their fight against the disease. The entire family of one of the young patients came on stage to demonstrate that family support was indeed crucial in winning the war against illness.

Then came the less serious part of the programme. It was show time for young patients and game time with TV game-show hosts. Everybody seemed to be having fun and was reluctant to leave when the event came to a close in the evening, wishing to see each other again next year.

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