Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2026
September 1, 2026
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Bianca’s story
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 🎗️💛
It is a time to raise even more awareness of childhood cancer, but more importantly, to recognise the kids and families living its reality every day.
Families like Bianca’s.
Before cancer, life for Bianca and her family was wonderfully ordinary. School and work during the week. Sport on the weekends. Time with grandparents, family and friends.
Then, one Saturday, everything changed.
What Bianca’s family initially thought was a broken arm led to a diagnosis they could never have prepared for: Bianca had leukaemia.
Within 24 hours, Bianca and her family had left their home in the Northern Territory and travelled to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney for urgent treatment.
They would be away from home for more than a year.
When childhood cancer changes everything
A childhood cancer diagnosis affects far more than a child’s health. Suddenly, everyday family life becomes centred around hospitals, appointments, treatment, medications and uncertainty.
For Bianca, there was chemotherapy, long days in clinic and time away from school, friends and everything familiar. She had to learn to take medications she didn’t want to take and cope with things no child should have to become accustomed to.
For her parents, there was the shock of the diagnosis alongside the practical reality of leaving home, putting normal life on hold and being everything their daughter needed them to be whilst still caring for her younger brother.
Because when a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family feels it. Mums and dads. Brothers and sisters. Grandparents and friends.
Routines disappear. Families can be separated. Work is interrupted. Finances are stretched. And underneath all of it is the uncertainty of what comes next.
Every childhood cancer journey is different. Every child and every family will experience it in their own way. But the disruption, fear and uncertainty that can come with a diagnosis are realities far too many families share.
Finding moments of childhood within treatment
There were many difficult days for Bianca and her family. But there were also moments of joy.
Bianca made nurses laugh. She created paper doll chains with friends. She coloured in, played with Lego and found little distractions during the long days of treatment.
Care Packs from Kids with Cancer Foundation became part of those moments too, filled with practical items, activities and small comforts to help make hospital days a little easier.
Her family also received financial assistance from the Foundation, helping relieve some of the practical pressure that comes when life has suddenly been turned upside down.
For Bianca’s mum, Mel, sometimes the difference was simply knowing someone was there. Knowing someone cared. Knowing there was somewhere to turn for help.
When so much feels heavy, taking away even a little of that weight allows families to put more of their energy where they desperately want it to be…with their child.
This Septembe, Go Gold for kids with cancer
Gold is the international colour of childhood cancer awareness.
Throughout September, Kids with Cancer Foundation is going gold to stand with kids like Bianca and the thousands of families whose lives have been changed by childhood cancer.
We invite you to stand with them too.
Share their stories. Wear gold. Start conversations about childhood cancer. Fundraise or donate to help provide practical and financial support to children and families when they need it.
Because no family should have to carry the realities of childhood cancer alone.
This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, help us make today easier for kids with cancer and their families. Donate Today>>