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The Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California (HFNC) is a
volunteer, non-profit organization serving the needs of the people
with hemophilia and related bleeding disorders. It is dedicated to
the treatment and cure of hemophilia, related disorders and their
complications, including HIV infection. It strives to improve the
quality of life of all those affected, through the promotion and
support of research, education and services.
Each year, HFNC sponsors Camp Hemotion, a week-long
Summer Camp for children with bleeding disorders and known
carriers. Camp staff are recruited both from within and outside the
hemophilia community. Many staff members are also affected by
bleeding disorders and serve as positive role models for campers.
"Camp Hemotion," is for children with bleeding disorders
(hemophilia, von Willebrand's and others), co-sponsored by the
Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California (HFNC), the Central
California Hemophilia Foundation (CCHF) and the Hemophilia
Treatment Centers (HTC's) at Children's Hospital, Oakland
(CHO), Valley Children's Hospital, Madera (VCH), the University of
California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the University of
California, Davis (UCD).
Camp Hemotion provides an opportunity for children with bleeding
disorders to learn and function in an environment where having
such a disorder does not set them apart from others. It is also an
opportunity for kids, as well as the adult counseling staff, to have
fun in a supportive environment where they can share
experiences and learn about their bleeding disorder.
HFNC does not require camper families to pay fees, and no
child is prevented from going to camp because of inability
to pay.
volunteer, non-profit organization serving the needs of the people
with hemophilia and related bleeding disorders. It is dedicated to
the treatment and cure of hemophilia, related disorders and their
complications, including HIV infection. It strives to improve the
quality of life of all those affected, through the promotion and
support of research, education and services.
Each year, HFNC sponsors Camp Hemotion, a week-long
Summer Camp for children with bleeding disorders and known
carriers. Camp staff are recruited both from within and outside the
hemophilia community. Many staff members are also affected by
bleeding disorders and serve as positive role models for campers.
"Camp Hemotion," is for children with bleeding disorders
(hemophilia, von Willebrand's and others), co-sponsored by the
Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California (HFNC), the Central
California Hemophilia Foundation (CCHF) and the Hemophilia
Treatment Centers (HTC's) at Children's Hospital, Oakland
(CHO), Valley Children's Hospital, Madera (VCH), the University of
California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the University of
California, Davis (UCD).
Camp Hemotion provides an opportunity for children with bleeding
disorders to learn and function in an environment where having
such a disorder does not set them apart from others. It is also an
opportunity for kids, as well as the adult counseling staff, to have
fun in a supportive environment where they can share
experiences and learn about their bleeding disorder.
HFNC does not require camper families to pay fees, and no
child is prevented from going to camp because of inability
to pay.
Christina Noble is the founder and driving force behind the
Foundation. Christina's passion for children's rights is rooted in
her own horrendous upbringing. Christina knows what it's like to
be young, homeless and desperate. Born in Ireland into the slums
of Dublin on 23 December 1944, she was to embark on a
childhood of pain and betrayal. She and three siblings were raised
by their mother while their father, who was once a bare knuckled
fighter, frittered away what little money the family had on drinking
in pubs. The death of her mother, when Christina was 10, brought
about the separation of the children, as they were all sent to
different orphanages. Christina spent four desperate years in the
west of Ireland in an Institute being led to believe that her brothers
and sisters were dead. Her escape brought her to Phoenix Park in
Dublin where she slept in a hole in the ground that she herself
dug. It was during this vulnerable time that Christina was subjected
to a gang rape and became pregnant.
A baby boy was born but given up for adoption against her will.
At the age of 18 Christina ran away to England to be with her
brother. This is where she met and married her husband and had
three children, Helenita, Nicolas and Androula.
Unfortunately the cycle of abuse continued as her husband
proved himself to be a violent and faithless man. She was
regularly beaten, suffered a miscarriage and was later forced to
undertake shock treatment for a mental breakdown and
depression.
It was during this particularly low ebb in her life around 1971 that
she had a dream about Vietnam.
"I don't know why I dreamed about Vietnam, perhaps it was
because the country was so much in the news at the time. In the
dream, naked Vietnamese children were running down a dirt road
fleeing from a napalm bombing. The ground under the children
was cracked and coming apart and the children were reaching to
me. One of the girls had a look in her eyes that implored me to
pick her up and protect her and take her to safety. Above the
escaping children was a brilliant white light
that contained the word 'Vietnam'."
This was a dream which she would one day triumphantly fulfill,
albeit 20 years later. In 1989, with the goal to assist children in
need, Christina arrived in Vietnam. Against all odds, Christina set
up the Foundation in Ho Chi Minh City where the number of
projects has grown considerably. In 1997, Christina expanded
CNCF's operations into Mongolia but she still remains the principal
driving force and inspiration and retains close personal contact
with the children. The Christina Noble Children's Foundation is an
International Partnership of people dedicated to serving children
in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional
rehabilitation, educational opportunities, vocational training, job
placement and the protection of children at risk of economic and
sexual exploitation. The Foundation seeks to maximize the
potential of each child. This is accomplished within the context of
the family and the community whenever possible and always with
love and respect for the dignity of each child as an individual.
Foundation. Christina's passion for children's rights is rooted in
her own horrendous upbringing. Christina knows what it's like to
be young, homeless and desperate. Born in Ireland into the slums
of Dublin on 23 December 1944, she was to embark on a
childhood of pain and betrayal. She and three siblings were raised
by their mother while their father, who was once a bare knuckled
fighter, frittered away what little money the family had on drinking
in pubs. The death of her mother, when Christina was 10, brought
about the separation of the children, as they were all sent to
different orphanages. Christina spent four desperate years in the
west of Ireland in an Institute being led to believe that her brothers
and sisters were dead. Her escape brought her to Phoenix Park in
Dublin where she slept in a hole in the ground that she herself
dug. It was during this vulnerable time that Christina was subjected
to a gang rape and became pregnant.
A baby boy was born but given up for adoption against her will.
At the age of 18 Christina ran away to England to be with her
brother. This is where she met and married her husband and had
three children, Helenita, Nicolas and Androula.
Unfortunately the cycle of abuse continued as her husband
proved himself to be a violent and faithless man. She was
regularly beaten, suffered a miscarriage and was later forced to
undertake shock treatment for a mental breakdown and
depression.
It was during this particularly low ebb in her life around 1971 that
she had a dream about Vietnam.
"I don't know why I dreamed about Vietnam, perhaps it was
because the country was so much in the news at the time. In the
dream, naked Vietnamese children were running down a dirt road
fleeing from a napalm bombing. The ground under the children
was cracked and coming apart and the children were reaching to
me. One of the girls had a look in her eyes that implored me to
pick her up and protect her and take her to safety. Above the
escaping children was a brilliant white light
that contained the word 'Vietnam'."
This was a dream which she would one day triumphantly fulfill,
albeit 20 years later. In 1989, with the goal to assist children in
need, Christina arrived in Vietnam. Against all odds, Christina set
up the Foundation in Ho Chi Minh City where the number of
projects has grown considerably. In 1997, Christina expanded
CNCF's operations into Mongolia but she still remains the principal
driving force and inspiration and retains close personal contact
with the children. The Christina Noble Children's Foundation is an
International Partnership of people dedicated to serving children
in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional
rehabilitation, educational opportunities, vocational training, job
placement and the protection of children at risk of economic and
sexual exploitation. The Foundation seeks to maximize the
potential of each child. This is accomplished within the context of
the family and the community whenever possible and always with
love and respect for the dignity of each child as an individual.
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