September kicks off Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All month long you can “Go Gold” in honor of the nearly 17,000 children who will be diagnosed in 2023, the 1,800 children who die each year and the over 500,000 survivors of childhood cancer who are alive because of research. 

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a critical part of the search for cures. While everyone has heard of childhood cancer, not everyone understands the impact the disease has in the lives of children and their families. From the fear and uncertainty to endless hospital procedures to financial and family stressors to pain and side effects, childhood cancer affects everything in its path. Moreover, childhood cancer research receives significantly less federal government funding as compared to adult cancers. It is up to us to raise awareness and fund cures. 

And while this is only one month, a lot can happen in thirty days and changes can be made to ensure children have bright, cancer-free futures. Here is how you can Go Gold in September and support Childhood Cancer Awareness month:

1.    Share Your Story
Has childhood cancer impacted your life? Share your story and the way childhood cancer impacted your life with your social media networks. If you are a parent of a child who faced cancer or a survivor yourself, you can submit your child’s hero story here. Siblings can share their stories, too. 

2.    Know the Facts and Share the Facts
Did you know that most types of childhood leukemia have a 90% cure rate? Or that pediatric brain tumors are the deadliest form of childhood cancer? Take a look at our Childhood Cancer Fact Library, updated for 2023, to learn more about childhood cancer and why research is so important. Our fact library includes an infographic you can share on social media.

3.    Wear Your Awareness
Take a look through Alex’s Shop and wear your childhood cancer awareness! From t-shirts and hoodies to hats and car magnets, Alex’s Shop has everything you need to be decked out in awareness! 

4.    Learn About the Research
Childhood cancer research works! Philip, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just 3 years old, was told that without a breakthrough treatment he would not reach adulthood. Thanks to donations to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), that breakthrough happened, and Philip is now 9 years old and cancer-free. Learn more about his story and how research impacts kids here. 

5.    Sign up for The Million Mile
You can Go Gold with every step in September! Throughout the month, participants of all ages, all over the world, log miles while raising money to help kids with cancer. Our goal is to collectively move a million miles! You can register here and join The Million Mile today (it’s free to join!). 

Looking for more ways to get involved and Go Gold for kids with cancer? There are so many ways you can help from hosting a lemonade stand to buying a product that supports ALSF to attending a special event.