What Month Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?

September is officially recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time when advocates, families, and communities rally to raise awareness and funding for the children and teens facing cancer every single day.

And no, it’s not as rare as you think.

Why Childhood Cancer Awareness Matters

Each year in the U.S., more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. Globally, that number climbs to over 400,000. These are babies, toddlers, school-age kids, teens. Cancer doesn’t care how young they are.

Despite the staggering numbers, childhood cancer research remains underfunded, receiving just 4% of federal cancer research funding in the U.S.

Raising awareness helps push for more research, more trials, and more support for families navigating the scariest journey of their lives.

Who’s Affected?

Childhood cancer doesn’t follow a neat rulebook. It hits across all demographics. But some trends exist:

• Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer
  
• Brain and central nervous system tumors are the second most common.
  
• Survivorship is increasing, but long-term health effects often persist.
  

Behind every diagnosis is a child missing school, a parent sleeping on a hospital cot, a sibling who doesn’t understand why mom is crying in the hallway.

The Symbol of Gold

The gold ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for childhood cancer awareness. Gold represents strength, courage, and resilience—a perfect reflection of the young fighters it honors.

During September, you’ll see gold ribbons, social campaigns, hospital walks, and fundraising events across the country. Each one is a chance to stand in solidarity.

Organizations We Admire

While we aren’t partnered with these organizations, we believe in the work they’re doing:

• St. Baldrick’s Foundation – Largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants (stbaldricks.org)
  

• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation – Funding research and supporting families (alexslemonade.org)
  

• Children’s Cancer Research Fund – Raising awareness and investing in better treatments (childrenscancer.org)
  

If you’re looking for ways to learn, support, or donate—start there.

How You Can Show Support

Even if you’re not directly affected, you can make a difference:

• Share facts about childhood cancer
  
• Talk about it with your community
  
• Support families in treatment with meals, donations, or childcare
  
• Wear a gold ribbon pin to show you care
  

The Power of a Pin

Our Childhood Cancer Awareness Pins are designed to help spark conversations. Whether you wear one to honor a loved one, support a local family, or advocate for funding, it says: this matters.

It says: they matter.

[Shop the Childhood Cancer Gold Awareness Ribbons]

Kids shouldn’t have to be brave.

But when they are, we owe it to them to be louder, prouder, and more present. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is about more than ribbons. It’s about showing up, standing up, and demanding more for our smallest fighters.

Need Support?

If you or someone you love is affected by childhood cancer, organizations like Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Children’s Cancer Research Fund offer incredible resources and support.

Let’s go gold. Let’s make noise. Let’s keep fighting until no child has to.