Organizations Team Up to Create the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance

Initiative Encourages Education, Research and Awareness of Childhood Cancer

ATLANTA, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, 13 organizations kicked off Childhood Cancer Awareness month by launching a new initiative to help fight childhood cancer.  The Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance was created to be the driving force in increasing awareness of childhood cancer and enhancing support for the young people fighting this disease as well as the clinicians and researchers who are helping them.  The alliance is comprised of organizations with a common goal -- to care for children living with cancer and to cure the disease.

Cancer is a battle too many of our young children and teenagers must face every day. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children from birth to age 15. Each year, more than 10,000 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed—approximately 46 children and adolescents every day.

"We've made great strides in the search for a cure for childhood cancer over the past 25 years, but we have to do much more to save the lives of countless children," said Howard Katzenstein, M.D., Director of the Innovative Therapy Program at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Director of Clinical Research at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Emory School of Medicine. "These wonderful organizations within the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance are stimulating research, caring for kids with cancer, raising awareness of the disease – and want others to join in the fight to save lives."

Founding members of the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance include: The Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Inc., Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Blue Skies, Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Camp Sunshine, CURE Childhood Cancer, Curing Kids Cancer, Georgia Cancer Coalition, Ian's Friends Foundation, Imagine It!  The Children's Museum of Atlanta, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Lighthouse Family Retreat.  

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal kicked off the effort by signing a proclamation at an event just for children battling cancer to declare September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  Throughout the month, the initiative hopes to utilize traditional and social media to encourage people to learn more about childhood cancer and to get involved by educating others, volunteering or making donations through member organizations.  

In addition to Georgia's Governor and member organizations, celebrities like Cindy Crawford and her partners at Rooms To Go are lending their support to the cause through social media channels like Twitter and Facebook.  Aflac, Inc. will launch a national media campaign including television, billboards, advertising and social media – and will sell an iconic Childhood Cancer Awareness Aflac Duck with all proceeds benefitting childhood cancer research.  Other member organizations will be executing various events and campaigns for childhood cancer awareness.

To find out more about the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance and how to get involved through member organizations, please visit www.stopchildhoodcancer.org.  Every person you educate, every hour you volunteer and every dollar you donate makes a difference.

SOURCE Children's Healthcare of Atlanta