A large, red, home-grown creation is about to change that.
The CanTeen Cruiser, a mobile library crammed with goodies to entertain and engage, was unveiled yesterday. Among its $7000 worth of contents are iPads, laptops, puzzles, DVDs, e-readers, magazines, and construction sets such as Meccano.
There are also cellphone top-up cards so patients can keep in touch with family and friends.
The Cruiser - a recycled Southern District Health Board sterilisation trolley which had been destined for the landfill - would be based at the Dunedin Hospital oncology ward and wheeled between four or five wards, CanTeen patient services youth worker Maureen Williams said yesterday.
"Wherever there is a young person on their cancer journey, we'll be there."
Rachael Barnfather, who left hospital on Wednesday after almost four months, said she would have loved having access to the Cruiser during her stay.
The Cruiser was sponsored by about 10 organisations including the Lions Club of Dunedin South, which donated the proceeds of the Taieri Gorge fundraising walk this year.
CanTeen's Otago-Southland division supports about 150 cancer patients and their siblings between the ages of 13 and 24.
The Dunedin group is holding its major fundraiser, an annual street day appeal, today.