Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Week Three
Every week in September, we’re sharing some of the most notable items we’re seeing from around the childhood cancer community. Here we bring you some highlights from the week of September 13th - 20th. But this post also previews the big week ahead: it’s CureFest week!
ADVOCACY EVENT: RALLY FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
Our friends at Rally for Medical Research hosted their largest-ever Hill Day last week, a virtual event that brought together more than 500 advocates around the country. They secured representation from all 50 states, plus DC and Puerto Rice, to hold virtual meetings with over 400 of the 535 Congressional offices. These advocates urged members of Congress to prioritize funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
RESOURCE FEATURE: CAC2 NEWS ROUND-UP
The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2) provides a terrific News Digest of highlights in childhood cancer research news from the past week: CC Community News Digest (week of September 14-20).
The same post also includes a listing of upcoming webinars that may be of interest. We’d like to draw your attention to NCI’s Facebook Watch Party on childhood cancer issues, taking place on Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:00 pm EDT. Dr. Lori Wiener will provide answers to audience questions live on the NCI Facebook page.
AWARENESS NEWS: STATE PROCLAMATIONS
We thank the state governors who are joining in our community’s awareness effort by issuing proclamations to officially declare September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In the last few days, Kentucky and New Jersey issued proclamations, adding to other states like Michigan who did so earlier in the month.
CAC2 is collecting notifications about proclamations (and gold lightings), so please take a moment to visit their Facebook page and share in the comments if your city or state issues a proclamation or a building/monument in your area lights up gold.
NEW RESOURCE: VOTER CENTER
Election Day is just weeks away! We hope every childhood cancer family will make their voice heard on November 3rd. Last week we debuted Voter Resources to help ensure you have all the info you need to make your vote count. Visit this page to find out who’s on your ballot, how to register to vote, the location of your polling place, and how to vote absentee or early in your state.
POLICY NEWS: CREATING HOPE ACT NEARS EXPIRATION
Without speedy Congressional action, the Creating Hope Act expires on September 30, 2020. Assuming that Congress will be unable to reach an agreement on the full FY2021 spending package by October 1st, we urge Congress to include extension funding in an upcoming Continuing Resolution.
Join us in asking Congress to reauthorize this program, which brings us closer to curing childhood cancers.
LOOK AHEAD: CUREFEST
CureFest 2020 will take place on Saturday, September 26 but in a new interactive virtual format that will allow many more families from across the world to participate in their own communities.
Photo: 2019 CureFest
This year’s virtual event will feature:
Rather than one large walk in Washington, DC, this year will feature hundreds of informal neighborhood One Voice walks around the country.
Participants will be interconnected virtually through an interactive, custom app that will count the group’s steps for the day. Based on the number of participants, we will have a group goal for steps taken on September 26. There will also be unique ways for families to share updates and words of encouragement with other families.
Families will have the opportunity to honor their child by submitting a short, personalized video. Each video submitted will be edited into a tribute video that will be shared on social media on September 26 and beyond. Additional details will be provided later this month.
CureFest program with speakers and performers which will be streamed on September 26, 2020 prior to the community walks.
Families will have the opportunity to purchase honor beads and medals for survivors, fighters and siblings. We will also have a special tribute for children who have passed away from childhood cancer.
Families will be encouraged to hold small candlelight vigils in their own yards or neighborhoods the evening of September 26.