Organizations Across the Country Team Up for Childhood Cancer Awareness

National Initiative Encourages People and Organizations to Go Gold for Awareness and Research to Cure Childhood Cancer

News provided by

Sep 02, 2014, 04:30 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations in Atlanta – and across the country – are participating in the Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness campaign this September. Coordinating this effort is the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta along with the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance that was created to be the driving force in increasing awareness of childhood cancer and enhancing support for the young people fighting this disease, as well as the clinicians and researchers helping them.

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children from birth to age 15. Each year, more than 12,000 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed—approximately 47 children and adolescents every day. Childhood cancer research is also severely underfunded and at an all-time low. Pediatric cancer research receives only 5 percent of all National Institutes of Health cancer research funding each year.

The Go Gold campaign is supported by a variety of non-profit cancer organizations, pediatric hospitals, companies, hotels, buildings and property owners who are all "Going Gold" in September to raise awareness. Participant activities include hanging gold ribbon banners on buildings, lighting buildings in gold, serving gold themed products, hosting cancer patient activities, fundraising and actively informing communities of the need for childhood cancer research.

Participants include:
The Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Aflac Inc.
Amanda Riley Foundation
American Cancer Society
Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities
Blue Skies
Brain Tumor Foundation for Children
Camp Sunshine
CURE Childhood Cancer
Curing Kids Cancer
Georgia CORE Center for Oncology Research and Education
Ian's Friends Foundation
King and Queen Buildings, Atlanta, Ga.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lighthouse Family Retreat
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Taylor Brooks Foundation
Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers
Three Ravinia, Dunwoody, Ga.
W Atlanta – Buckhead
Young Council of REALTORS of the Atlanta Board of Commercial REALTORS

"We've made great strides in the search for a cure for childhood cancer over the past 25 years, but we have to do much more to save the lives of countless children," said William G. Woods, M.D., Director of the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Emory School of Medicine. "These wonderful organizations and our colleagues at other childhood cancer centers are stimulating research, caring for kids with cancer, raising awareness of the disease – and want others to join in the fight to save lives."

To find out more about the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance, participating organizations and how to get involved, please visit www.stopchildhoodcancer.org. Every person you educate, every hour you volunteer and every dollar you donate makes a difference.

Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving children and young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center cares for more than 400 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Visit aflaccancercenter.org or call 404-785-1112 or 888-785-1112 for more information.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Zncy5gSkU&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE Children's Healthcare of Atlanta