SEPTEMBER:

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

In recognition of the fact that 400,000+ children and adolescents around the world are diagnosed with cancer each year*, September has been designated as the month for raising awareness of childhood cancer and funds for treatment and research. Supporters often wear a gold ribbon — the colour representing childhood cancers. Unlike other cancer awareness ribbons, which focus on a single type of cancer, the gold ribbon is a symbol for all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents.

September is usually a time when children go back to school refreshed from the Summer holidays, to meet their friends and study with renewed enthusiasm.   But for children battling cancer, September is another month of treatment, hospital visits and prolonged isolation. Don’t let cancer stand in the way of a child’s dreams.  Your support will help children whose lives are put on hold and whose futures are uncertain because of cancer … and will hopefully help them stop being patients and get back to being just children. 

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

§ GIVE  BLOOD

• – It’s something that every healthy person can do, there is no age limit and costs nothing but a little of your time.

• – Cancer and cancer treatments can damage bone marrow, where red blood cells and platelets are produced.  When patients have low red blood cell and platelet counts, they cannot fight infection.

• – Blood and platelet transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight  cancer.

§ KEEP IN TOUCH  

• – If your friends’ child has been diagnosed with cancer, stay in contact.  In person, via telephone, by video conference applications (e.g. WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, etc.) or social media.

• – Keep in touch.  Knowing that you care really matters.  Your friends might not be able to reply, but reassure them that you don’t expect an immediate response.

§ FAMILY HELP

• –Offer to collect the other children from school, babysit or take siblings for an outing,

• – Find creative ways to give parents a break.

§ SHOP FOR GROCERIES

• – If you can, shop for groceries or prepare home-cooked meals … that will be one less worry for parents.  Meals that can be frozen and re-heated can be especially helpful.

§ HELP WITH CHORES

• –Offer to do some housework or gardening, walk the dog or run a few errands.

§ PARTICIPATE

• –Participate in fundraisers such as STEP-BY-STEP-TEMBRE for your local children’s hospital or childhood cancer organisation.

• – Make it an outing for family fun!

• – Your donations fund medical equipment and vital medical research.

§ MAKE A DONATION

• – Donate to your local children’s hospital or childhood cancer organisation.   Your gift can support life-saving patient care and ground-breaking research.

§ ORGANISE A FUNDRAISER  

• – Get together with friends to plan a unique fundraiser, or contact your local children’s hospital for ideas.

The Window Washer (YouTube video)