Childhood Cancer Foundation Kicks off 2009 "Small Hands" Fundraising Campaign on International Childhood Cancer Day
TORONTO - February 9, 2009 - The Childhood Cancer Foundation – Candlelighters Canada (CCF) wants Canadians to know "Small hands can make a big difference" and is challenging Canadians big and small to use their hands to help the more than 10,000 children across Canada currently fighting cancer. From International Childhood Cancer Day (February 15) to the end of September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) the Childhood Cancer Foundation is calling on children, parents, schools, community groups and sports teams to organize "Small Hands" fundraisers in their communities for childhood cancer.
"Many people think that because childhood cancer is such an overwhelmingly, complex problem they are helpless to do anything that will make an impact," says Mary Lye, Director of Marketing and Communications, CCF, and the parent of a childhood cancer survivor. "Our new Small Hands fundraising campaign was specifically designed for individuals or groups to initiate small, personal fundraising campaigns – with goals ranging from $50 to $5,000 - that when pooled together make a big difference."
Recent research by Statistics Canada revealed the predicted five-year survival rate for children and adolescents who are diagnosed with cancer has risen to 82 per cent - which is 11 per cent higher than the rate measured in a previous national study (1985 to 1988). This means that now four out of every five children diagnosed with cancer will survive their journey. The CCF is committed to undertaking and supporting national initiatives that will result in increased survival rates and ultimately a cure for all childhood cancers.
A list of individual and group Small Hands fundraising suggestions can be found at www.smallhands.ca. Popular initiatives include: collecting and donating empty wine and beer bottles, hair cuttings/head shavings, garage sales, accepting donations in lieu of birthday party gifts, dinner parties, barbeques and golf tournaments.
"People can make a real difference," says Cindy Redburn, who lost her son Tanner to cancer in 2005. "Each year in support of Small Hands, and as a tribute in memory of our wonderful son, my husband and I hold a Friends for Life concert in Arthur, Ontario."
The Childhood Cancer Foundation's Small Hands fundraising campaign was launched in 2008, and in 2009, the Foundation is working to build national awareness of the campaign so it can ensure the ten Canadian children who are diagnosed with cancer every school day, along with their families, receive the range of support and information programs they require to help them through their cancer journey. In addition, the CCF funds research through the C17 Research Network of Canada's children's hospitals and supports childhood cancer survivors with college/university scholarships to celebrate their second chance at life.
The 2009 Small Hands campaign kicks off on February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day – the day people around the world unite to raise awareness of childhood cancer and money towards the fight against it. The campaign will close at the end of September - Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
In addition to encouraging grassroots fundraisers through its Small Hands campaign, The Childhood Cancer Foundation is currently looking for corporate partners to help fund its scholarship and research programs.
"We still lose one in five of our cancer kids to the disease. We know that with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors we will reach our goal of a 100 per cent cure," says Lye.
To register a Small Hands event, to read event planning tips or to donate to a participant, please visit www.smallhands.ca.
About the Childhood Cancer Foundation – Candlelighters Canada
Established in 1987, the Childhood Cancer Foundation – Candlelighters Canada is the only national charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer in Canada. The Foundation provides support programs, funds research and advocates for children and their families who are affected by cancer. These programs directly contribute to increasing survival rates and quality of life for paediatric cancer patients and their families, and will ultimately help find a cure for all childhood cancers. For more information, visit www.childhoodcancer.ca.
###
Mary Lye |
Cathy Cowan |
