PRESS RELEASE: Swashbuckling Spirit Remains High for ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ Despite Challenging Covid-19 seas – regional children with cancer battle on
Talk Like A Pirate Day is the official fundraising and awareness day and signature event of Childhood Cancer Support – Australia’s oldest children’s cancer charity. For 45 years, this community organisation has provided accommodation, transport and support services to regional families whose children are diagnosed with cancer. The now national event, on Saturday 19th September, 2020, encourages participants to dress up and ‘talk like a pirate’ to raise awareness and funds for children affected by childhood cancers and leukaemia.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Childhood Cancer Support has worked tirelessly to keep all doors to their facilities open, providing a safe and supportive space for the immune-compromised children who are undergoing rigorous cancer treatments, or check-ups, at a great distance from their homes in regional communities.”
Childhood Cancer Support General Manager, Helen Crew, said that this year has been an incredibly difficult one for our families. “Our families, and the charity, are all doing it tough. There is so much uncertainty, but the one thing we know is that despite the pandemic, children continue to be diagnosed with cancer. We are happy that we can continue to offer our light-hearted way to get the community involved in the fight against childhood cancer with our Talk Like A Pirate Day event.”
With a child diagnosed with cancer in Australia every 14 hours (more than 600 per year), Childhood Cancer Support needs the help of the community more than ever this year. More than 800 workplaces, schools and childcare centres throughout Australia are dressing up in their best pirate gear for some swash-buckling fun to raise vital funds for Childhood Cancer Support.
Given the restrictions that this year’s COVID-19 pandemic has placed on inviting media to a broader event, we have prepared two video messages of thanks from families currently residing at the long-term family units. Please watch and hear from –
Gold Coast Mother Cassandra and her daughter Rose and twin, Lily, aged 4:
Townsville Mother Nikita and her son, Blade, aged 6:
Ahead of the national fundraiser on 19th September, we welcome all media to safely visit the paediatric oncology families at our Herston family units this coming Thursday 17th September at 10am. A Zoom video interview can also be arranged.
Yohoho and a Bottle of fun!
Sign up or donate at www.talklikeapirateday.com.au
Media Contact:
Fiona Foxon
Media & Marketing
Childhood Cancer Support
0477 621 640
About Talk Like A Pirate Day
This exciting fundraising initiative of Childhood Cancer Support gives workplaces, schools and childcare centres throughout Australia a chance to dress up, hunt for treasure and talk like a pirate, all for a great cause. Talk Like a Pirate Day is officially September 19th but can be celebrated any day you choose. Anyone can participate in Talk Like a Pirate Day and fundraise by signing up at www.talklikeapirateday.com.au
About Childhood Cancer Support
Childhood Cancer Support is a not-for-profit organisation who, for 45 years, has been dedicated to providing families affected by childhood cancer with a place to live that looks and feels like home. Childhood Cancer Support is the oldest children’s cancer charity in Australia and was founded by a dedicated group of parents who realised there was an urgent need to provide a safe and family-focused environment for regional families whilst their child was receiving life-saving cancer treatment in Brisbane at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. The organisation now has 17 fully self-contained family style units for long-term stays, as well as short-term accommodation for families returning for regular check-ups, and provides support to the affected children, their families and communities throughout each stage of the journey, regardless of the outcome for the child.
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End Release
15 September 2020
