ACCO is so thankful for our event hosts. In this season of giving thanks, we want to highlight just a few of our many generous supporters. This September, ACCO was honored with more than 130 events across the United States. We were delighted to see so many first-time hosts, as well as so many experienced event-runners who had worked with us in the past! 

Last year, we received a donation from Custom Ink on behalf of Rio, an osteosarcoma fighter. Rio’s friend Chloe hosted a shirt fundraiser in his honor. Rio’s friends, family and community purchased shirts and wore them to school on Rio’s treatment days and on any day he might need extra support. This year, Chloe continued the tradition and held another shirt fundraiser. To date, Chloe has raised a little over $3,400 for ACCO in honor of her friend. 

Every year, schools across the country partner with ACCO to raise awareness and funds for our nation’s littlest cancer patients. With each event, students are proving that they can impact their community when they work together. We are so incredibly proud of every school that participated in our programs this year. 

In Texas, Tom Wilson Elementary raised more than $3,400, mostly with small donations of less than $5. We were awestruck to see what an impact they made, and we are proud and thankful for the students and community at Tom Wilson Elementary. 

Brookside Place School has hosted PJammin® events with us before, and we were happy to welcome them back this year. They raised more than $3,700 in memory of their friend Will, a forever osteosarcoma hero.

Germantown, MD brings yet another amazing story of generosity. Sixth grader Vishagan Aranganathan had a special idea for how to celebrate his birthday: he asked friends and family to donate to a gofundme page, in support of children with cancer. He successfully raised $500! 

ACCO is honored and thankful for each of our hosts who work so hard to make their events successful. We look forward to expanding our program throughout the year. If you are interested in hosting a GO GOLD® or PJammin® event, please contact Blair at bscroggs@acco.org. We’d love to work with you! 

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is working to bring more accessible ways to fundraise to our community and has recently started working with CardFunder, a new fundraising platform. CardFunder, allows nonprofits to turn unwanted gift cards into fundraising dollars. Recently, CardFunder launched its online giving platform and Mobile App, which makes fundraising even easier—and donating even more convenient. Donors can give new or partially used gift cards directly through the American Childhood Cancer Organization online campaign page or via Mobile APP powered by CardFunder. 

This free tool allows donors to contribute from anywhere in the U.S., making it a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. “We’re always looking for a new and innovative way to fundraise for our community,” said Blair Scroggs, Public Relations Coordinator at ACCO. Organizations can easily hold a virtual or hybrid fundraiser that solicits gift card donations from supporters across the nation. 

“We are honored to support ACCO’s mission to be the voice of childhood and adolescent cancer,” said Russ Howard, CEO at CardFunder”. By giving nonprofits an innovative new avenue for fundraising, CardFunder allows them to tap into the billions of unused gift card dollars. Americans have $21 billion in unused gift card funds, averaging $175 per person. Much of that amount will go to waste unless we pursue innovative ways of tapping into those funds. Many people forget to spend their gift card money or didn’t want it to begin with.

Why let these unwanted funds go to waste? With the help of CardFunder, ACCO can set up a fundraiser in minutes. Then, they share their link on their social networks, posting it on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. They also receive a QR code to and URL-sharing link. Donors scan their gift cards and enter the numbers, following a few simple prompts. 

“We’re really excited to see where this collaboration will take us,” said Scroggs. 

Interested in getting involved with ACCO and Cardfunder? Click here. 

About ACCO

The American Childhood Cancer Organization was founded in 1970 by parents of children diagnosed with cancer. It is dedicated to making childhood cancer a national health priority through shaping policy, expanding research, raising awareness, and providing educational resources and innovative comfort programs to children with cancer and their families. Please visit www.acco.org/donate

About CardFunder

CardFunder powers fundraising efforts by enabling organizations to accept unwanted gift cards and monetizing the cards into cash donations. Serving schools, churches, nonprofits, and other groups, CardFunder provides all the tools needed to easily run a gift card campaign. Through these efforts, CardFunder helps local groups and large nonprofits tap into the more than $20B in unspent gift cards.

Contact Info

CardFunder:

Russ Howard

Founder / CEO

russ@cardfunder.com

ACCO:

Blair L. Scroggs

Public Relations Coordinator

bscroggs@acco.org

18 October 2022 – Today, WHO is launching the first global survey to better understand and address the needs of all those affected by cancer. The survey is part of a broader campaign, designed with and intended to amplify the voices of those affected by cancer – survivors, caregivers and the bereaved – as part of WHO’s Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Noncommunicable diseases (PLWNCDs). This Framework is a commitment to respectfully and meaningfully engage PLWNCDs in co-designing policies, programs, and solutions. The survey results will feed into the design of policies and programs to offer better well-being in the context of a cancer diagnosis and co-create solutions for the future.

Nearly every family globally is affected by cancer, either directly – 1 in 5 people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime – or as caregivers or family-members. A cancer diagnosis triggers a broad and profound effect on the health and well-being of all those involved. “For too long, the focus in cancer control has been on clinical care and not on the broader needs of people affected by cancer,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “Global cancer policies must be shaped by more than data and scientific research, to include the voices and insight of people impacted by the disease.”

Recent studies have shown that nearly half of people diagnosed with cancer experience anxiety and loss of faith and may be abandoned by their intimate partners. In low- and middle-income countries, financial hardship and loss of assets can be experienced by 70% or more of those affected. “When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer, our lives changed drastically and in ways that we did not expect. The effects of cancer last a lifetime,” said Ruth Hoffman, President of the American Childhood Cancer Organization.

Understanding and amplifying the lived experiences of people affected by cancer can create more effective and supportive systems. Yet, the needs and preferences of people with cancer and their caregivers remain unknown to many providers and policy-makers. “We are making a long-term commitment to place people affected by cancer properly at the center of the agenda, to co-create better solutions” explained Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO. “This campaign will include four phases: releasing the global survey, hosting national consultations, presenting best practices and implementing community-led initiatives. We are ready to open a new chapter and improve the well-being of people affected by cancer.”

The ambition of the global survey is to reach more than 100 000 responders from 100 countries, a majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. The survey results are expected in early 2023 and, thereafter, used to shape policies, programs and services for people affected by cancer globally.

Take the global survey here.  

Learn more

Advocacy is at the heart of ACCO’s mission and ACCO’s Regional Advocacy Ambassador’s, Amy and Hannah embrace that fully. Thank you for using your talents to make a difference. We are pleased to recognize you and grateful to have you on our What About Kids team!

Meet Regional Advocacy Ambassador, Amy

Since 2017, we are proud and honored to have worked with state legislatures across the country to secure $66 million dollars in funding with the goal of overcoming the national disparity between adult and childhood cancer research. Many times this effort begins with state cancer action plans. Currently only 11 states include substantive language specific to childhood cancer. We believe each state should have specific objectives related to childhood cancer! It takes a team to make meaningful policy change and we are so thankful to have such talented individuals committed to this cause.

One of those is Amy Kindstedt, a ACCO Regional Advocacy Ambassador. As a high school sophomore and two-time childhood cancer survivor, Amy works tirelessly to conduct outreach to new volunteers, reach out to legislators and partners, gather data about any existing childhood cancer work, and create systems to organize data so we can efficiently move forward. Recently, Amy reached out to all 50 states to develop partnerships and share information to create change for this important initiative.

Meet Regional Advocacy Ambassador, Hannah

At the American Childhood Cancer Organization we are proud that ALL of our advocacy team are childhood cancer survivors or parents of children diagnosed with cancer. We know that those directly impacted are the most powerful advocates as we share personal stories with elected officials and key leaders. We invite you to meet Hannah Adams, a 12 year survivor of Stage 3 Nephroblastoma. 

Hannah Adams, of Alabama, is a critical member of this team serving as a Regional Advocacy Ambassador. After enduring surgery, radiation, and chemo she is on fire for the cause to help other children, adolescents and young adults impacted by this horrible disease. In this role Hannah has provided key assistance in state-level advocacy for childhood cancer research appropriations as well as inclusion of specific childhood cancer content in state cancer action plans communicating with all 50 states. Hannah’s leadership in grassroots advocacy has resulted in impactful progress in California, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee – and she is just getting started! 

When my 7-year-old daughter was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in 1987, I was grateful for the early research being done on bone marrow transplantation, a treatment that would ultimately save her life. Total body radiation and chemotherapy were so toxic. I believed that within twenty years, innovative research would result in new treatments – treatments that wouldn’t be so toxic to children with cancer. It’s been thirty-five years since her diagnosis and treatment and sadly, there has been little change in the treatment protocol for children diagnosed with AML.  Cancer remains the number one cause of death by disease for children in the U.S. Unlike many adult cancers that have declined in incidence, childhood cancer incidence is increasing. Despite these alarming statistics, 30 states do not include any childhood cancer language in their comprehensive cancer plans; and as of 2017, no states had specifically appropriated funding for childhood cancer research in their state budgets. This is why I have remained committed to this cause for the last 35 years and why I am proud of my team at ACCO. Together, we have worked hard to change this landscape. I hired a former legislative agent to launch ACCO’s “What About Kids” Research Initiative in KY which resulted in the first specific childhood cancer research appropriation in 2018. Since then, ACCO has continued to build its team who works closely with state governments to reduce the disparity between adult and pediatric cancer.  To date, $66 million has been appropriated for childhood cancer in four states because of ACCO’s “What About Kids” State Research Initiative, with more than $30 million appropriated in the last year! In 2022, through the work of ACCO’s Director of Government Affairs and our KY-based Advocacy Regional Coordinator, Kentucky’s General Assembly increased its state appropriation from $2.5 million annually to $6.25 million for FY 2023-24 bringing the total appropriation for childhood cancer in Kentucky to $22,500,000 from FY 2018 – FY 2024. In 2022, ACCO’s continued advocacy with New Jersey’s governor resulted in an additional $10 million appropriated for childhood cancer research, bringing NJ to a total of $25,000,000 appropriated to date.  In 2022, ACCO’s advocacy with PA resulted in an additional $7.5 million appropriated for childhood cancer research at 3 academic research institutions, bringing PA to a total of $17.5 million appropriated to date.  ACCO identified legislative champions in Maryland and California. We worked to have childhood cancer legislation passed in Maryland (SB 51, and HB 775), with an associated $1 million appropriated by Governor Hogan for childhood cancer research at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine. ACCO staff also serve on numerous State Comprehensive Cancer Plan Working Groups to increase the number of states that include childhood cancer language and strategies in their cancer plans.

To date, $66 million has been appropriated for childhood cancer in four states because of ACCO’s “What About Kids” State Research Initiative. Donate to ACCO to Further this Mission.

What About Kids Research Projects

BENTONVILLE, AR. (August 2022) – Amped Electric Games selected Bentonville, Arkansas for their first-ever  International Electric Unicycle Games. The games promise to bring thrills during the weekend of September 2-4, 2022. Riders will come from around the world to compete in the Electric Unicycle Competition held at the Bentonville Fairgrounds in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

“The Electric Unicycle is revolutionizing urban transportation and is the fastest growing new segment in green transportation,” states Nathan Pust, founder of REV Rides. “We are so excited for more people to experience this level of freedom in transportation and recreation.” 

Amped Electric Games has chosen to GO GOLD® during the event with funds going to the American Childhood Cancer Organization. During the games, guests can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets to win one of two electric unicycles. 

GO GOLD® events are held by hosts on behalf of The American Childhood Cancer Organization where they raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. This particular event coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with hopes to amplify the mission. Childhood Cancer families in the Bentonville, AR area are invited to GO GOLD® and attend the event free of charge. Families can register here.

“We’re so excited to be working with Amped Electric Games to GO GOLD® during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” said Blair Scroggs, Public Relations Coordinator of The American Childhood Cancer Organization. “We hope that we can work with them for many years to come!”

EUC Racers led by Chris Iwinski are expected to reach speeds in excess of 55MPH on their large 22” diameter wheels. Not to be overshadowed, the VIP jumpers plan to attempt a jump over a school bus led by Mike Leahy on their lighter 18” diameter wheels.  Each night spectators will have the opportunity to watch both the main events in racing and jumping as well as these VIP riders’ demonstrations.  

According to Seth Johnson, “We are very excited for this event. We will be showcasing the top electric unicycle riders in the country. The events will include on-road and off-road races, jump competitions, obstacle courses, and freestyle. We encourage EUC riders of all levels to join us to meet our VIP riders and participate in these once-in-a-lifetime events.”

Learn more about Amped Electric Games here: https://www.ampedelectricgames.com/

About Amped Electric Games

Press Kit

eRideLife Media Contact: Seth Johnson, seth@eridelife.com

Seth Johnson is a Denver, Colorado-based personal electric vehicle (PEV) rider who rides and reviews vehicles on his YouTube channel eRideLife.  He has been sponsored professionally by REV Rides since October 2021.  Seth has traveled thousands of miles on his PEVs after discovering the physical and mental health benefits he experiences while riding.  Seth believes the freedom and utility gained from PEVs can have a positive impact in any situation, he has even used them to help distribute food in disaster zones. 

About The American Childhood Cancer Organization 

ACCO Media Contact: Blair L. Scroggs, Public Relations Coordinator, bscroggs@acco.org 

The American Childhood Cancer Organization was founded in 1970 by parents of children diagnosed with cancer. It is dedicated to making childhood cancer a national health priority through shaping policy, expanding research, raising awareness, and providing educational resources and innovative comfort programs to children with cancer, and their families. Please visit www.acco.org/donate