Xploro, the app that helps children being treated for cancer understand what鈥檚 happening to them, is to introduce a companion app for their brothers and sisters.听
The new functionality is designed to help the siblings of seriously ill children understand what鈥檚 happening to their brother or sister at the same time as offering reciprocal support.听
Xploro听is crowdfunding till the end of September to fund this expansion and to unlock match funding. They are currently looking for companies and individuals to support their cause.听
To听help听Xploro听raise money for the development of听the听siblings听companion app,听visit听its听crowdfunding page听听
The new functions will enable children to keep in touch by remotely playing multiplayer games together; allowing them to visit each other鈥檚 avatar bedrooms and leave gifts; and exchanging virtual hugs in augmented reality.听听
The current chatbot will also be updated with answers to common questions children have about their sibling鈥檚 condition or treatment.听
CEO Dom Raban听co-founded听Xploro听when his daughter Issy underwent extensive and complex treatment for听Ewing鈥檚 Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. You can read the story of Issy and her younger brother Oscar in听.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 all too easy to forget that the brothers and sisters of children going through treatment for serious illnesses suffer too,鈥� Raban said.听听
鈥淭hey experience a wide range of emotions, including fear and anxiety, anger, jealousy, resentment, loneliness, guilt, sadness and grief.听听
鈥淢y wife and I know this from first-hand experience when my daughter, Issy, was diagnosed with Ewing鈥檚 Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, at the age of 13. Our focus during her 12 months of gruelling treatment was almost entirely on her and unfortunately her younger brother, Oscar, was left in limbo, with his emotional needs largely overlooked.
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鈥淚 wanted to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation by offering听Xploro听to siblings too, giving them the ability to keep in touch with their brother or sister, offering a place where they can express themselves, and helping them understand the complicated treatment pathways with age appropriate information.鈥�听
Xploro听is听offering听companies听inclusion in听its听‘supporters’ list on the听Xploro听website and in-app听鈥撎�with听company logo and link back听鈥撎�for听donations of 拢500.听It is offering听inclusion in听its听‘patrons’ list for donations of 拢1,000.听听
It is also seeking听smaller donations听as it looks to reach a stretch goal of 拢37,500.听