Local Pirates Make A Splash for Kids with Cancer!

On Friday 9 June, FDC Footprints Kindergarten will embrace their inner scally-wags and dress up like pirates for childrens’ cancer research.

It’s the 3rd annual “Pirate Day Friday”, a national fundraiser that encourages children, office workers and whole towns to dress up and give a gold coin donation for the privilege.

All funds raised from the campaign in collaboration between The Adventurers and The Kids’ Cancer Project, are directed to funding vital childhood brain cancer research.

Last year over 500 schools and early learning centres across the country along with workplaces like Bayer and whole town of Malanda in Far North Queensland got involved. Since Pirate Day Friday started in 2015, over $200,000 has been raised for childhood cancer research.

Col Reynolds OAM, founder of The Kids’ Cancer Project is delighted with the initiative. “It’s great to have a bit of fun to fundraise despite the serious nature of kids’ cancer. Many people aren’t aware that the causes of childhood cancer are unknown, that there is no prevention and that research is the only way to improve treatments and survival,” he said. “The Kids’ Cancer Project is an independent national charity supporting childhood cancer research. Since 1993, we’ve been able to contribute more than $34 million to research projects to help children with many types of cancer, thanks to strong community support.”

Children at FDC Footprints Kindergarten in Norville will be dressing up and making a donation to help research into children’s cancer.

Matt Fitzgerald, Director of The Adventurers and father of Abby (7) who has been in remission from brain cancer for 2 years, encourages all people to get on board with this fun initiative which has a serious positive impact on funding.

“The most significant issue for families affected by childhood cancer is the continued existence of a disease for which there are no solid answers,” he said.

“The focus of The Adventurers and The Kids’ Cancer Project is the same –  to find the answers and cure. That is why we fund medical research. Getting involved in Pirate Day Friday on 9 June allows everyone to become a contributor in making possible the medical research which ensures the improvement of diagnoses, treatment and ultimately cure of childhood brain cancer is in the foreseeable future.”

Gold coin donations will be collected at FDC Footprints Kindergarten throughout the day on Friday 9 June 2017. You can also donate online www.curekidscancer.org.au/event/piratedayfriday2017

The facts:

• Childhood cancer is different to adult cancer.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death of children by disease.
• Three Australian families hear the words, “your child has cancer” every day.
• Every year, 950 Australian children are diagnosed with cancer.