During September, organisations around the world working to improve outcomes for kids with cancer are uniting for International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

Together they have a clear goal; to highlight the need for improved diagnosis and specialised treatments, and to raise awareness of the types of cancers that primarily affect children.

International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was first declared in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama. 

Despite the global initiative gaining momentum during the last decade, 70% of Australians remain unaware of the devastating reality of childhood cancer. 

In Australia, cancer kills more children than any other disease. Twenty children are diagnosed with cancer every week, and three will lose their battle with the disease weekly. 

For the children who do survive, 70% will suffer lifelong side effects and are five times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer a second time than other people.

We’re proud to support some of the Australian organisations determined to turn these statistics around, and this month we will be profiling some of their incredible work.

The Zero Childhood Cancer Program is the global leader of a game-changing approach to treating childhood cancer, offering Australia’s first personalised medicine treatment plans for children with high-risk or relapsed cancer and have less than a 30% chance of survival.

The Program combines the brightest minds and most advanced technology to analyse the genetic make-up of each child and their unique tumour to identify precisely what’s driving the cancer and recommend a personalised treatment plan. The Program has an inspiring goal of reducing child cancer deaths to zero. 

The Children’s Hospital Foundation is committed to improving survival and survivorship for kids with brain cancer through the Children’s Brain Cancer Centre. 

In an Australian first, researchers from world-leading institutions are working together to advance treatment options and ultimately find a cure. Brain cancer claims the life of one Australian child every nine days and this is the only initiative dedicated to pediatric brain cancer in the country. 

The Childhood Cancer Association’s mission is to provide practical, hands-on support for children with cancer and their families. Founded in 1982 by a group of parents of children with cancer, together they’ve been providing families with the services they need to navigate the treatment ranging from counselling, accommodation, tutoring, child-minding, and much more. 

These organisations are giving hope to hundreds of children and their families through their inspiring dedication and hard work, and we are proud to play a small part in supporting these organisations through our donations and ongoing partnerships.