Cancer Outreach And Support In Second Life

Poppy ZabelinSecond Life Community Convention

San Francisco, August 15, 2009

Outreach Support

‘the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits’

WHAT: brand marketing, awareness, education, prevention, (early) detection,

HOW: Events, talks, notecard givers, newsletter, web links, quests, interactive builds

‘give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to’

WHAT: Informational and emotional support

HOW: Peer support meetings, one-to-one

Searching on keyword ‘cancer’*

Search SL > Places = 46 Search SL > All > Places = 180 Search SL > Groups = 177 Search SLHealthy = 43*

*includes sims, groups and events

After eliminating events, stores, libraries, individual RFL teams, kiosks, and memorials, arrived at:

Places = 10 Groups = 57

*Searches carried out August 1-3, 2009

American Cancer Society Association for International Cancer Research London Oncology Clinic Macmillan Cancer Support (UK) Virtual Cancer Institute (Modena) Breast Cancer Awareness/Network of Strength Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research Breast Cancer Awareness Garden Cancerland (thyroid cancer build) R.I.S.E. U.P. National Lymphoma Day/Roche

Total 57 groups of ~ 177 groups that mention ‘cancer’ are providing education and/or support

~ 35 groups have an official or unofficial tie-in to a RL organization (total 23 organizations)

7 groups > 100 members (2 groups >400) 4 groups > 50 members 12 groups > 20 members 34 groups with 2-19 members

SL’s RFL Volunteer – ACS* (431) SwirL – RISE UP – World Lymphoma Awareness

Day September 15 (420) SL’s Cancer Survivors Group – ACS* (283) AICR – Association for International Cancer

Research* (208) Susan G. Komen (205) Breast Cancer Awareness, formerly NoS* (158) SL’s Cancer Caregivers – ACS* (147) Associacao Accreditar – IPSS (69) SL Cancer Research UK (60) Cancer Co-op (57) Macmillan Cancer Support* (56)

Gone from Second Life Lance Armstrong

Foundation – Livestrong Army*

Closed suddenly in September 2008

La Ligue Contre le Cancer – official site (French language)

still active in March 2008 according to SLHealthy

Still present but inactive Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society* Malecare (Prostate Cancer

Support, and Prostate Cancer Research Foundation groups)*

Macmillan Cancer Support UK*

Hangout still exists but group is inactive

*All with single owners not in world for >12 months

Entered SL with Relay for Life in 2005, founded ACS island 2007. Welcome center, media library, auditorium, Relay offices, tribute to cancer survivors, and a memorial to survivor ‘heroes’ . Two active peer support groups for survivors and caregivers, more groups planned.

Entered SL in 2006-7 (Scotland sim) built own island 2007. Community building (club, music events), informational posters ‘12 most common cancers’, plans for expert talks/Q&A’s.

Replica of London Oncology Clinic in Harley Street, London, UK. Patient education, orientation.

British cancer charity, a leading provider of information and support including excellent videos. Present but no longer active in SL?

Two-day mixed reality conference on breast cancer in September 2008 with talks streamed in from an international conference at the University of Modena, Italy.

Used to hold weekly peer support meetings, not currently active but still has an office in SL.

Set up to commemorate Brendon Flannery who died aged 26 of pancreatic cancer last May. Besides fundraising it also has informational posters about pancreatic cancer.

Built by Akasha Dividasero as a restful place for breast cancer survivors and their friends to hang out and relax.

Built by thyroid cancer survivor Hilde Hullabaloo to help herself work through the emotional rollercoaster of thyroid cancer treatment and to educate people about thyroid cancer

Founded 2009, sponsored by Roche Products Australia. Purpose to raise awareness about lymphoma and the most common signs and symptoms of lymphoma for World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD), 15 September 2009.

The ‘Anatomica’ build, which will be moving soon to the American Cancer Society island.