The International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) was declared by the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (ICCCPO) in Luxemburg in September 2001. The objectives of the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) are to educate the public about childhood cancer and to support local fund-raising by member nations. Click here for related articles.

The first ICCD was held on 15th January 2002 and it was a great success with 38 countries organising a range of activities to mark the day. Subsequently, different countries initiated their own activities for the day and examples include:

United Kingdom
Cancer survivor, Shannon Fenlon, meets the Prime Minister Tony Blair to launch ICCD 2003. You can read more about this story here.

The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and The Lancet Oncology announce a €600,000 initiative to tackle cancer in children in the developing world. Read more.

Greece
The Greek government announced a donation in support of a hospice built by FLOGA (Greek Parents Association of Children with Cancer).

New Zealand
The Girl Guides staged a “March the World” event in support of ICCD 2003.

Ireland
The Barretstown Gang held a balloon launch.

Canada
A media briefing was organised to launch a five-day conference announcing a $300,000 research programme for childhood cancer.

Spain
The Spanish Federation of Parents of Children with Cancer invites you to participate in a virtual launch of balloons. These balloons tell us about hope, tomorrow’s closeness, the future and those who fight to beat this illness. It is also a remembrance of those whom have left us. Read more.

For 2008, we will expect 56 countries around the world joining together to organise different activities to commemorate ICCD.

Find out the story behind the Gold Ribbon and how it came to symbolize childhood cancer.