Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM)
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - a time to honor the children and families impacted by pediatric cancer, raise awareness, and fuel research for safer, more effective treatments.
Our mission is to end childhood cancer by driving targeted and innovative research with measurable results in an accelerated time frame. We believe every child with cancer deserves a safe and effective treatment option.
At CureSearch, awareness is only the beginning. We’re accelerating the development of new, safer childhood cancer treatments - because kids with cancer can’t wait.
Childhood Cancer Facts
Every September, the gold ribbon - the international symbol for childhood cancer awareness - reminds us that children deserve cures, not just hope.
Pediatric Cancer Statistics
Survivorship and Treatment Toxicity
Due to toxic treatments, two out of three childhood cancer survivors will develop at least one chronic health condition, including musculoskeletal problems and secondary cancers.
Types of Childhood Cancer
Pediatric cancers are biologically distinct from adult cancers and require specialized research. From leukemias to brain tumors to sarcomas, each type presents unique challenges - and opportunities for new therapies.
Why September Matters: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Research and Clinical Trials
Our research funding is laser-focused on new drug development. We identify and fund high-potential projects with an aggressive timeline to meet our end goal: developing safer, more effective treatments to save kids now.
CureSearch-funded pre-clinical projects are seven times more likely to advance to clinical trials - and they get there over a year faster compared to the national average.
Addressing Areas of Unmet Need
We focus on pediatric cancers with the lowest survival rates, those with the most damaging or limited treatment options, and underserved populations, including adolescents and young adults.
Grants and Funding
Our Acceleration Initiative, Catapult Awards, and Young Investigator Awards fund groundbreaking research - from early-stage projects to clinic-ready trials - bridging critical gaps in the research pipeline.
Our Impact
Patient Story: Auggie’s Legacy
Like any five-year-old, Augusto "Auggie" Grant had big dreams. He wanted to be an astronaut, a superhero, and a ninja warrior named Sherman. His parents remember how he would light up a room, and how he once suited up in full firefighter gear "just in case" on a routine car shop visit.
In 2011, Auggie was diagnosed with acute monoblastic leukemia. Just five days later, he passed away at age five.
His parents, Cheryl and Jon, turned their grief into purpose by connecting with CureSearch. They founded Auggie's Honey Badgers - a team that hikes each year in his memory and raises funds for research.
"Auggie taught us to jump in with hope and ferocity," Cheryl says. "It only takes five minutes to set up a recurring donation - and those five minutes could mean a lifetime for another child."
This September, we honor Auggie’s story as a reminder of why CCAM matters: too many families know the pain of losing a child, and too few safe treatments exist today.
How You Can Get Involved
Awareness is powerful - but action changes the future. Here’s how you can join the fight:
✅ Donate -- Every gift fuels research breakthroughs
✅ Walk or Hike -- Take part in a CureSearch Walk or Ultimate Hike
✅ Schools & Businesses -- Encourage your network to get involved locally! Host gold-themed events or team fundraisers. Contact us to learn more.
✅ Share and Advocate -- Share our posts on social media to help raise awareness.
FAQ
Take Action Today
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is about more than wearing gold. It’s about building momentum toward cures. Donate today, because every child deserves the chance to live out their dreams.