September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Once again, Attic Air takes a break from talking about home comfort to focus on something even more important — raising awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
This cause is deeply personal to us. Years ago, our nephew Jonathon was diagnosed with Unresectable Anaplastic Astrocytoma, a rare brain tumor, when he was just 10 years old. That diagnosis changed everything. Until then, childhood cancer was something we only heard about — suddenly, it was our reality. We are grateful beyond words that Jonathon is now a survivor. But we know that many children and families are still in the fight. Too many never get the chance to grow up.
What We’ve Learned Along the Way
One of the most shocking truths we’ve discovered is how underfunded pediatric cancer research is. Every 2 minutes, another child is diagnosed with cancer. That’s more than 30,000 children every month. In the U.S., nearly 15,780 children under 21 are diagnosed each year. Billions are raised annually for cancer research, but only a small portion goes toward pediatric cancers. That has to change.
Awareness is Working!
The 5-year survival rate for childhood cancer has risen from roughly 58% in the 1970s to as high as 88% today, an improvement tied to decades of advocacy, clinical trials, and public campaigns like Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
How You Can Help
Here are a few ways to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:
- Wear gold in September.
- Share trusted childhood cancer awareness resources.
- Donate if you are able. Click here to learn more about St. Jude’s and how you can help>
- Volunteer or participate in a fundraiser.
- Encourage others to learn more.
- Show kindness to families walking through treatment.
No one action fixes everything. But together, awareness, research, funding and compassion can help move us closer to a future where more children survive and thrive.