Make Canada Gold and Be Bold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Make Canada Gold and Be Bold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September
37 Canadian landmarks to be lit up gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; social media campaign #HeroPoseChallenge to honour kids with cancer
August 31, 2020 (TORONTO, ON) – Childhood Cancer Canada and Coast and Coast Against Cancer Foundation are observing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September with 37 Canadian landmarks lit up gold and a social media campaign called the #HeroPoseChallenge. Landmarks across the country will be lit up gold to honour the Gold Ribbon, the international symbol for childhood cancer awareness. The #HeroPoseChallenge asks supporters to post a photo or video of themselves posing with their hands on their hips like a superhero, and to share and tag their friends on social media, to honour the strength of children dealing with cancer.
“Childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of Canadian children”, said Patrick Sullivan, Board Chair for Childhood Cancer Canada and Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. “Although overall outcomes are positive, there is still much work to be done to address survivorship, toxicity of treatments, and the low cure rates of refractory, relapsed and hard to treat cancers. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to share these challenges with the public and to remind them that these kids need our support now more than ever.”
The following landmarks from coast to coast will be lit up gold on September 1, 2020 to mark the start of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:
Alberta
Calgary Tower (Calgary)
Reconciliation Bridge (Calgary)
McMahon Stadium (Calgary)
Arts Commons (Calgary)
Telus Spark (Calgary)
ATB Place (Edmonton)
High Level Bridge (Edmonton, on September 2, 2020)
Sylan Lake Lighthouse (Red Deer)
Crooked Creek Gazebo (Crooked Creek)
Fairview Gazebo (Fairview)
Airdrie City Hall (Airdrie)
Airdrie Fountains (Airdrie)
British Columbia
BC Place Stadium (Vancouver)
Canada Place Sails of Light (Vancouver)
Maple Ridge City Hall (Maple Ridge)
Fraser River Footbridge (Quesnel)
New Brunswick
NB Legislature (Fredericton)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Confederation Building (St. John’s)
Government House (St. John’s)
Nova Scotia
Halifax City Hall (Halifax)
Ontario
CN Tower (Toronto, standard light show runs for 8 minutes at the top of every hour)
Toronto City Hall (Toronto)
Toronto Sign (Toronto)
Princes’ Gates Arch at Exhibition Place (Toronto)
Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls)
Riverwalk Commons and the Fred A. Lundy Bridge (Newmarket)
London City Hall (London)
Oakville Town Hall (Oakville)
Kingston City Hall (Kingston)
Springer Market Square (Kingston)
Hamilton City Hall (Hamilton)
Hamilton Sign (Hamilton)
Paris Dam (Paris)
Civic Centre Clock Tower (Mississauga)
Prince Edward Island
The Holman Grand Hotel (Charlottetown)
Charlottetown City Hall (Charlottetown)
Saskatchewan
RCMP Heritage Centre (Regina, all month)
The #HeroPoseChallenge is a social media awareness campaign. To help spread awareness for childhood cancer, supporters are asked to pose like a superhero, post an image or video of their pose with the hashtag #HeroPoseChallenge, and to tag three friends on social media asking them to join the challenge. Childhood Cancer Canada initially launched the #HeroPoseChallenge for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2018. The campaign is being refreshed in 2020 as it allows supporters to respect physical distancing, while still engaging their friends and family to support the cause.
Childhood Cancer Canada and Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation supports families across the country who have been impacted by childhood cancer with programs that include: Empower Packs, provided to children newly diagnosed with cancer; the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, for Canadian childhood cancer families in active treatment who have been financially impacted by the current crisis; Survivor Scholarships, for childhood cancer survivors with post-secondary academic aspirations; and the Benevolent Fund, that provides financial assistance to help a family cover the costs of their child's funeral. The Foundation is also the primary charitable funding partner of clinical trials and childhood cancer research for C17, comprised of leading pediatric oncologists and hematologists in Canada.
To join the awareness campaign, please follow @childhoodcancer and @beyondkidscancer on social media using the tags #HeroPoseChallenge or #MakeCanadaGold.
For more information on Childhood Cancer Canada, please visit childhoodcancer.ca. For more information on Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, please visit: coasttocoastagainstcancer.org.
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Childhood Cancer Canada
Childhood Cancer Canada is one of Canada's leading foundations dedicated to funding national research while delivering outreach, vital educational and community programs to children and families affected by cancer. Our focus is on saving, enhancing and extending the lives of kids with cancer.
Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation
Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation raises vital funds for childhood cancer programs and charities by conducting high quality, memorable, physically challenging events encouraging active and healthy lifestyles. These events engage sponsors, participants, donors and volunteers. We are a national foundation with community-level engagement. Through our knowledgeable and experienced granting committee, we ensure every dollar has maximum impact in the areas of highest need for tangible results in the fight against childhood, youth and young adult cancers.
Press Only
For more information, please contact:
Kathy Motton
Director, Marketing and Communications
Childhood Cancer Canada and Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation
[email protected]
416-315-4535