An Exciting Month for Childhood Cancer Advocacy

The childhood cancer community sparked dialogue and spread awareness in a big way during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Join St. Baldrick’s advocacy network, Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer.

The childhood cancer community sparked dialogue in Washington, D.C., during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

This September, the childhood cancer community took Washington, D.C., by storm. From the halls of Congress to the White House, childhood cancer was a part of the conversation.

The flow of information was substantial. It was the beginning of a dialogue with government leaders to move childhood cancer from the back burner to the forefront of initiatives.

The childhood cancer community is poised and ready with its arsenal of creative ideas. The challenge remains one of funding for childhood cancer research.

Childhood cancer research continues to suffer disproportionately from the cuts made to the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Our decreasing national investment in research has caused a brain drain and soon there may not be enough pediatric oncologists to treat and save our children.

It will require:

• Persistence of the childhood cancer community to continue its focus and determination on the funding problem with government leadership.
• The childhood cancer community to work together in ways that go beyond our comfort zones.
• Open, honest, transparent communication among our groups to work on a common agenda.

Now is our time to show the beauty and strength of our community.

St. Baldrick’s Ambassador Lauren poses at the Capitol with her mom during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

As we participated in an unprecedented number of activities in D.C. for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month — from the Childhood Cancer Caucus Summit, to a community luncheon with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer, the social media campaign #StepUp, Cure Fest and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s Policy Roundtable — the St. Baldrick’s team was there actively participating, leading, and listening to the key issues all of our kids and families face.

We continue to press for changes, ask tough questions and strive to work collaboratively with the entire childhood cancer community and government leaders.

As the energy from all the activities of D.C. fade, it is important to keep the momentum going. Follow-up from all these events and awareness is critical. We have the opportunity to create change.  We here at St. Baldrick’s are committed to advocating for more money for research and for making childhood cancer a national priority every day — not just during the month of September.

There are so many ways you can join us. Check out the seven ways you can help kids with cancer all year long.

• What I Learned From My Daughter’s Deadly Brain Tumor Diagnosis
• Curing Childhood Cancer in the 21st Century: It’s Time for a Kid-centric Approach
• Why I Went to D.C. for Childhood Cancer Action Days