Every year, about 16,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, is a reminder that behind each statistic is a child, a family, and a journey.

The month of September is a time dedicated to recognizing the strength of children battling cancer and the importance of support. This awareness not only brings attention to the disease itself but also highlights progress in treatments, the value of research, and the bravery children show every day.

One of the biggest challenges pediatric cancer faces is the monetary assistance given towards it. Pediatric Nurse at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, Lily Muir, explains that, “There is hardly any funding that goes towards pediatric cancer.”

Although the lack of funding remains a challenge, local communities still find ways to make a difference. In Milford, there have been many events and fundraisers that show support to these families going through cancer.

Some of these fundraisers include Danni Kemp, Finley’s Feet, and Avery’s Little Army. Through these fundraisers, the community shows support through different events such as 5K runs, donations, and many sports events.

At Foran, athletics show a huge amount of support for childhood cancer.

“Athletics is a great way to promote awareness of important issues. Students or families will bring issues forth to coaches or teams, and we will look at how we can best promote the issue to the fans at games,” Foran Athletic Director Jeffrey Raucci explains.

Foran’s Student Council also plays a significant role in showing support.

“Student Council uses announcements, flyers, and social media to spread the information. We encourage participation in wearing yellow to raise awareness about childhood cancer on Spirit Day, as well as the Yellow-Out football game,” Senior Class President Thao Pham explains.

As Foran students and staff focus on spreading awareness and support, the medical side of childhood cancer brings another important perspective. Muir shares advice for families, reminding them that “even if two kids have the same type of cancer, that doesn’t mean their outcomes are going to be the same,” and “when a child gets cancer, it is very rare, and parents should not feel like it is something that they may have caused.”