Gold September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!
Did you know that:
- There are 35,000 new cases of childhood cancer in Europe each year.
- Over 6,000 children and young people are dying every year in Europe from childhood cancer.
- Almost 500,000 survivors of childhood cancer live in Europe today, however, most of them experience adverse late effects limiting their well-being and participation in society
- There are up to 20% differences in survival of children with cancer amongst European regions due to unequal access to the best standard care and research.
During September, and throughout the year, we invite you to join us and honour children and young people with cancer, their families and caregivers, healthcare professionals, survivors, children who lost their lives, and scientists dedicated to beating childhood cancer.
By raising awareness during ‘Gold’ September – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, you can make a real difference and help us create a brighter future for children and adolescents with cancer.
GOLD RIBBON SYMBOLISM
The gold ribbon is the universal symbol for childhood cancer and used to mobilise attention. You can show your support by wearing a gold ribbon pin or including a digital ribbon in your messages.
How to participate in our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month campaign?
Join Us at the Dressing of Manneken Pis as Childhood Cancer Expert
On 6 September, a remarkable event unfolded in Brussels, as Manneken Pis underwent a breathtaking transformation to symbolize hope and unity during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The iconic Manneken Pis was dressed as a Paediatric Oncologist, leaving a lasting mark on the hearts of the city.
Buy a Book from Filigranes and Support our Partnership by Donating to SIOPE
SIOPE is teaming up with Filigranes Library to shine a spotlight on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month during Gold September. Visit Filigranes’ Stores in Ixelles, Brussels Centre, and Knokke to discover our informative posters, shedding light on childhood cancers in Europe. Every purchase at Filigranes comes with a free SIOPE bookmark. Scan the QR code on it to stay connected and donate while enjoying your reading at home. For every donation, customers receive a golden pin ribbon as a heartfelt thank you. Wear it proudly and show your support in the fight against childhood cancer.
RUN4SIOPE at the Engie Dwars door Mechelen
Throughout years (in 2018, 2019, and 2021), the SIOP Europe Team joined for the charity run at the Dwars door Mechelen. We have invited our community (doctors, survivors, parents, friends and families) based in Belgium to run with our team and support this awareness-raising campaign about childhood cancer. This year we are extremely happy to be able to meet again and run together!
Join us on Sunday 24 September at the ENGIE Dwars door Mechelen Run.
Listen to ESCALIER mini-podcasts
During Gold September, CCI-Europe and SIOP Europe are launching a joint initiative to communicate about childhood cancer problems in Europe, which the ESCALIER project will address. This initiative will shed light on important problems that are often overlooked, but the ESCALIER core team, patient advocates, and young doctors are here to explain.
Listen to these mini-podcasts in revising the current European Standards of Care.
Follow the Progress of the Tricycle Tour
During Gold September, our former board member and childhood cancer awareness advocate, Stefan Bielack, will go on a 3-week tricycle trip all the way from Stuttgart down the Danube to Budapest (around 1.300 km). This tour takes place in September, in light of Childhood cancer awareness month and this initiative will serve as an awareness message from Stuttgart to Budapest. During the way, Dr. Bielack plans to visit pediatric oncology departments.
To support this initiative, SIOPE will follow the tour and his progress frequently by posting it on social media and celebrating every small milestone. Follow us online with #TricycleTourForKidsWithCancer!
Wear Gold Day
To raise awareness this month, we will be adding a new feature to our Gold September campaign and that is #WearGoldDay.
Therefore, we invite each and every one of you to wear your finest gold or yellow clothes on the 27th of September. The SIOPE team will also participate in this initiative and capture some memorable group photos with gold/yellow shirts/outfits. 📸
Although abroad, you are encouraged to send us your gold-themed pictures from the comfort of your own home/clinic/office. Please kindly send these pictures to our marketing & communications colleague, Stejsi Shehi, stejsi.shehi@siope.eu. These pictures will be shared online as part of our social media #GoldSeptember campaign.
Curious how this initiative unveiled? Click the link to discover these incredible photos.
SIOPE Session at the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG)
On 27th of September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, SIOPE hosted a captivating session at the European Health Forum Gastein on "Pioneering Cross-Border Collaborations for the European Health Union."
For more information about the session, click here.
Here are some key takeaways from the pannel discussion:
1. The childhood cancer community showed that solutions for inequalities across Europe in care and research can only be found in collaboration with all stakeholders
2. Measures need to be taken on an EU and national level to tackle drug shortages, facilitate access to high quality care and innovation
3. European Reference Networks need support not only on EU level, but especially at the member state level
Missed the session? Don't worry! 📽️Watch the recording here.
Let's continue to work together for a healthier Europe!
Join the discussion on: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to share your story or message of support!
Use these hashtags in your own posts and to find other campaign supporters:
#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth, #GoldSeptember
SIOP Europe in partnership with CCI Europe – the organisations representing childhood cancer healthcare professionals and academia as well as parents, patients, and survivors – will once again mark the Gold September campaign through a special policy event in cooperation with the Members of the European Parliament Against Cancer (MAC) Interest Group.
This year’s event will focus on how can the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation be a success for children and adolescents with cancer.
Hosted by Member of the European Parliament Loucas Fourlas (EPP, CY), the event will take place on 7 September 2023 (03:00 – 04:30 PM CEST) in the EU Parliament.
Find out more & register here.
You are welcome to support SIOP Europe’s multiple projects and initiatives to create a brighter future for children and adolescents with cancer.
Your support and donation will contribute to reaching the objectives identified in the SIOPE Strategic Plan, which includes research, innovative treatments, equal access across Europe, quality of survivorship and much more.
Click here to support our mission.
More information:
- The SIOPE Strategic Plan ‘A European Cancer Plan for Children and Adolescents’ Update (2021-2026)
- SIOP International: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Campaign website
- Childhood Cancer International - Europe
- PanCare: Pan-European Network for Care of Survivors after Childhood and Adolescent Cancer
For specific enquiries or further information, please contact us by email: office@siope.eu