September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The month’s goal is to increase awareness and raise funds for those affected by childhood cancer. To support the cause, Minisink Valley schools are “going gold” on Friday, Sept. 27!

Please consider having your child wear gold/yellow to support the need for additional research funding, in honor of a young survivor or someone in treatment, or in memory of child.

According to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancers make up less than 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. About 11,060 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades.

Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, more than 80 percent of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Overall, this is a huge increase since the mid-1970s, when the 5-year survival rate was about 58 percent. Still, survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer and other factors.

After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14 . About 1,190 children younger than 15 years old are expected to die from cancer in 2019.

Thank you for your support!