The Good Cause of the Month: #BeAChildCancerFriend Campaign by the Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group

As you know, every month I introduce a charity organisation on my blog in order to raise awareness for them. Since I have this fantastic platform, my blog, I try to use it to support good causes too. This month, as September is child cancer awareness month, I’d like to introduce Children Cancer and Leukaemia Group.

Introducing the Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group

CCLG are a leading UK children’s cancer charity and research funder; last year they funded over £2.4 million of specific research into childhood and young adult cancers. This is important because childhood cancers receive less than 4% of general research funding but are completely different to adult cancers in how they are diagnosed, treated and understood.

Not many charity organisations can tell that they only spend 6p of every £1 raised on fundraising but CCLG is one of them. 94% of all funds go on research and producing publications for patients and their families, to guide them through every stage of their cancer journey. If fundraisers choose to raise for one of their Research Funds then 100% of the money raised will be spent on research on that particular cancer or area of research.  

#BeAChildCancerFriend campaign

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of childhood cancer as a whole as well as the impact a diagnosis can have on families and communities. The Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group recently conducted a survey of parents whose children have or have had childhood cancer and not surprisingly, they found that over 80% of parents felt anxious after a diagnosis and lots of them had no idea where to turn for help and support. For other family members and close friends, it can also be distressing. Most of the time they are not sure how to help and what to do or say. Certainly, these can be very difficult times for everyone. So the group have come up with some practical tips and advice based on parent’s advice, so people will feel more confident to #BeAChildCancerFriend. 

Ways to help the campaign

Help to sell gold ribbon pins (the symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) and encourage others to sell them at their places of work/school or in their communities. More about the campaign www.cclg.org.uk/gold-ribbon

Get baking! Celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is backing the campaign too, who has a personal connection to CCLG to encourage fundraising during September. It would be great to feature posts of making the cake/having completed the cake after baking the recipe. More information: www.cclg.org.uk/BeBoldGoGold

If you’re interested reading about other inspirational charities I wrote about, why not have a read: Good Cause Of The Month: The Secret Pillow Project