Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Week One
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is off to a bold and gold start!
For those who have been impacted by childhood cancer, September is a special time. It’s a time when we join together as a community to celebrate advances in childhood cancer treatment and care, remember the children we've lost, and engage new advocates to join in our mission of achieving a day when every child with cancer can live a long and healthy life.
Every week in September, we’ll share some of the most notable items we’re seeing from around the childhood cancer community. If you see something on social media or in your neck of the woods that you would like to see featured here next week, please drop us a note at info@childrenscause.org.
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NATIONAL NEWS: WHITE HOUSE GOES GOLD
On September 1st, First Lady Melania Trump shared the exciting news that the White House had been lit up gold in honor of children with cancer and their families.
Illuminating “The People’s House” is something that many vocal advocates in the childhood cancer community have been requesting for more than a decade, and we know how meaningful and significant this moment was to so many families.
The White House also issued a formal proclamation naming September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:
I ask every American to reach out and help a family battling childhood cancer. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness of what Americans can do to support the fight against childhood cancer. I also invite the Governors of the States and Territories and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to join me in recognizing National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. - Donald J. Trump, President of the United States
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AWARENESS FEATURE: MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS
We’re grateful to the corporations and businesses who are giving back and shining a light on childhood cancer this month, including these major league sports franchises who are bringing awareness ‘to the field.’
Major League Soccer has launched its 7th annual ‘Kick Childhood Cancer’ campaign, in partnership with Continental Tire. Throughout the month, MLS clubs and players will be surprising childhood cancer patients and healthcare providers with “unique experiences and acts of kindness.” Continental Tire will be donating sets of tires to patient families and activity kits for kids. Soccer fans are encouraged to join in the campaign by submitting “Messages of Hope” on social media channels using the hashtag #KickChildhoodCancer. For every post with the hashtag, Continental Tire will make a donation to pediatric cancer research.
Major League Baseball also recognizes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month every year by encouraging its teams to partner with local organizations to find unique ways of bringing attention to the cause. This is the fifth year that MLB ‘pitches in’ to the fight against childhood cancer.
The Baltimore Orioles have announced a Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday, September 5th, where players and coaches will be wearing gold decals on their chests and the basis will be adorned with special gold jewels.
Since stadiums are empty due to the pandemic, the Philadelphia Phillies have filled a section of seats with cardboard cutouts of children fighting cancer, survivors, and children who have died. The cardboard cutouts - dubbed the ‘Courageous Kid Section’ - will fill the seats all month long.
PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK: VIRTUAL ACTION DAY ON 9/9
Stay tuned for the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s Virtual Day of Action on Wednesday, September 9th! Sign up for our email alerts to find out how to join in from home, or be sure you’re following us on Facebook and Twitter throughout the day.