YOU may not know but September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM), and at CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, we are asking locals to get behind our campaign to raise vital funds and awareness.

For CCAM, we have revealed the ‘hidden costs’ of cancer through the impact it has on the mental and emotional health of parents.

Our new research found that more than half of parents (63 per cent) said they experienced depression during their child’s treatment, more than a third (37 per cent) experienced panic attacks and 84 per cent experienced loneliness.

Worryingly, less than 40 per cent of parents accessed support for managing stress and anxiety during their child’s treatment.

To show your support for these families during CCAM you can get a gold ribbon by donating on our website. The money raised will help provide vital support for families of children and young people living with cancer who are affected by these issues.

It’s tough seeing your child go through cancer. Get your gold ribbon today to show your support and help more families cope.

We are also inviting people to help us fight for change for young people with cancer and their families by becoming CLIC Sargent campaigners.

This might involve signing a petition, making noise on social media or writing to your MP.

For more information about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and how to get involved, please visit: www.clicsargent.org.uk/ccam

Liz Blunt, CLIC Sargent Fundraising and Engagement Manager for South Central — Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.