1. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S.
How to help: Volunteer at a local children's hospital. Spending time with kids and their families makes all the difference.
2. September is pediatric cancer awareness month. Many people are not aware of that.
Go gold! Wear a gold ribbon. Hand out stickers. Put gold glitter on your face. Awareness=funding=research=a cure.
3. Much of what we know about treating adult cancers has been learned from childhood cancer research, but only 3.8% of federal funding goes directly to pediatric cancer research.
How to help Write your local representatives. Make them aware that this is an epidemic and we need their support to make a difference.
4.There are over a dozen types of childhood cancer and hundred of different subtypes.
How to help: Share a child's story on your social media accounts. There are hundreds of thousands of stories being shared everyday on Facebook. Find one that hits home and share the child's updates regularly.
5. When donating to large cancer societies, only pennies of your donation goes directly to pediatric cancer.
What you can do: Donate to nonprofit organizations that focus solely on pediatric cancer. There are hundreds out there, but I suggest Candlelighters, ACCO, Whip Pediatric Cancer, Cannonball Kids Cancer, and A Moment of Magic.
6. More than 60% of children younger than 15 years old with cancer are treated as part of a clinical trial. Clinical trials are exactly what they sound like: children have to rely on testing new treatments to try to see if they work.
How to help: Sign a petition. Certain acts to raise awareness and funding are being brought to congress RIGHT NOW!
Check out the STAR Act! http://www.acco.org/blog/childhood-cancer-star-act...
7. Because of the treatments they had as kids, by the time they’re in their 30s or 40s, more than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a chronic health problem and 80% will have severe or life- threatening conditions.
How to help: Attend events and rallies that are held all over the country. Here, you can network with people just as passionate as you are about pediatric cancer.
Check out CureFest! http://www.curefestusa.com/
8. Certain pediatric cancers, like DIPG have less than a 1% survival rate.
How to help: Become an advocate and start talking. Reach out to your work, school, club, or team. Present statistics and enlighten the masses.
9. One in five children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. will not survive.
How to help: Join a team. Get your coworkers, teammates, schoolmates, and friends to come together to raise awareness and money. Run a 5k. Shave your head. Make some lemonade. There's power in numbers.
10. 7 Children die from pediatric cancer in the United States every single day.
How to help: Do a collection drive. Collect new toys, books, clothes, gift cards, money, ANYTHING! The little things we take for granted make all the difference in the world.
