I learnt how to make lampwork glass beads at the Born to Bead studio in Auckland.  Lisa-Jane Harvey offers classes for all levels of glass bead makers.  Check out her website here:
Born to Bead
Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage® is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the programme children tell their story using colourful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path.
BOC

On the first Saturday of the month, Helen Moore spends time at the Born to Bead studio making beads for the Beads of Courage programme. 

"It is really something special to know that a bead I made is going to be used to help to reduce illness-related distress, support them in finding meaning in their illness, and helps a young child dealing with a serious illness reinstate a sense of self” - Helen Moore

Every bead represents a different procedure that children with cancer may go through. The Beads of Courage programme is a supportive care programme that uses different coloured beads as tangible symbols for the many different procedures and treatments. Each child leaves hospital with a unique collection of beads representing their particular journey with cancer and the milestones they have completed along the way.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn3YrCpytH8 to view the article from Mary TV

BEADS OF COURAGE COLOR GUIDE:

Bone Marrow Aspirate/Biopsy = Beige
Course of Chemotherapy = White
Central Line/Port/PICC Line Inserstion & Removal = Orange
Clinic Visit = Blue
Emergency/Ambulance/Unusual Occurence = Magenta
Hair Loss/Thinning = Brown
Isolation/Fever/Neutropenia = Lime
Lumbar Puncture = Tortoise
Morphine/Dopamine/PCA Infusions = Purple
Pokes(IV Starts, Blood Draws, IM injections, Port Access) = Silver/Black
Radiation Treatments = Glow in the Dark
Tests/Scans(EEG, ECG, ECHO, MRI, CT, Bone Scan, Gallium..) = Light Green
Transfusions = Red
Tube Insertions(Catheter, Chest, NG, Foley) = Aqua
Sleep over at Hospital/Patient Admission = Magic Bead
Stem Cell Harvest/Dialysis/TPN = Dark Green
Surgery = Silver
Transfer to the PICU = Square Heart

MILESTONE BEAD COLORS

Special Accomplishments and Recognition = Special Selection
Bone Marrow Transplant = Fimo or Glass Selection
COMPLETION OF TREATMENT = PURPLE HEART