September 04, 2014

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

A month that isn’t nearly as publicized as it should be, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. From the American Childhood Cancer Organization, the purpose of this month is to promote the fact that “Families, caregivers, charities and research groups across the United States observe September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In the U.S., 15,780 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year; approximately 1/4 of them will not survive the disease. A diagnosis turns the lives of the entire family upside down. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues, and – importantly – to help raise funds for research and family support.”

Perhaps you or your family haven’t been directly affected by childhood cancer, but most everyone in America has been deeply affected by cancer in one form or another. Childhood cancer is a devastating battle for the families and children afflicted and any awareness we can help bring to this cause will make a wonderful, powerful impact.

Here are some ways you can observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:

The American Childhood Cancer Organization gives you all the tools to host your own gold-themed event and to register it via their site. Host an event, donate the funds to an incredible charity, and have a good time while you’re at it…what could be better?

Pjammin for kids with cancer. This is another event—great for schools and day care programs—where participants can pay a $1 to wear pajamas, with all that money donated to kids with cancer. Pass this info along to your kid’s school and see if you can get a program started there this month!

Cure Childhood Cancer has a list of great ideas on their website for fundraising opportunities that are easy to organize. Take one of these to your church or school, and encourage those around you to make a difference!

Hopes & Heroes is an organization affiliated with the Columbia University Medical Center, and they’ve listed a ton of ways to get involved—both through their organization as well as your own fundraising efforts. It could be as simple as a quick donation or as big as getting your place of work to become a corporate sponsor. The opportunities to get back are endless!