To mark September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we joined our friends in Cancer Fund for Children and Friends of the Cancer Centre for a special “Go Gold” event in the Children’s Cancer Unit and Belfast City Hospital, complete with lights, balloons and goodie bags.

It was wonderful to meet the children and young people and their families and spread some joy in both hospitals. There were lots of happy smiles and excited faces in clinic and on the ward as each location went gold for a day and even the staff got involved by sporting their Go Gold t-shirts and joining in the celebrations.

The Go Gold events provided patients with a safe space where they could have fun while raising awareness of the support offered by these incredible charities.

Jane Hoare, Chief Executive Officer at The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity commented:

“We are delighted to join our colleagues in Cancer Fund for Children and Friends of the Cancer Centre to celebrate Go Gold Day. Events like these, and indeed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, are a great opportunity to shine a light on the impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis and it is a chance for us to create something extra special for the children and young people and their families to enjoy during their hospital stay or outpatients’ visit.”

Youth Support Worker with Cancer Fund for Children, Lucy Forde added:

“This is our 3rd year of marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with in-hospital events and we love being able to bring that joy and fun onto the ward. A childhood cancer diagnosis can impact the whole family and beyond the essential medical care, there is often a family life that needs to be rebuilt. We are passionate about working with other charities to help families find space for enjoyment and events like this are a big part of that.”

Ana Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Friends of the Cancer Centre, said:

“Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an important time and an opportunity to show families impacted by cancer that they are not alone. We are really delighted to work alongside Cancer Fund for Children and The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity on the Go Gold days. As well as highlighting the support on offer through the vital work of each organisation, it was an opportunity to create special moments for families and bring a little joy to young people.”

Throughout the month of September, approximately 10 children and young people (aged 0-24) will be diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness of this reality and the impact a childhood cancer diagnosis can have on the whole family.