Chatham-Kent will start a month-long campaign of raising awareness about childhood cancer in southwestern Ontario with a flag-raising ceremony Thursday morning.
The golden ribbon will fly at the Civic Centre on King Street West, starting at 11 a.m., kicking off more than a dozen events that will take place in the area stretching from Windsor up to Huron County.
Last year, the flag at the CK Civic Centre was raised by Matteo, a local boy who was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in May 2023.
A release from Childcan said September has been designated Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with its recognizable symbol, the golden ribbon, representing "a precious metal, just as children are our most precious treasure."
Childcan said childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of Canadian children and it is encouraging everyone to take time to raise awareness about the reality of childhood cancer and to emphasize the importance of research.
"We are deeply thankful to the municipalities across Southwestern Ontario that are lighting up gold, raising flags, and officially recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month," says Executive Director at Childcan Suzanne Fratschko Elliott in a release."These actions speak volumes about the importance of standing with our children and their families. We invite everyone to join this movement—whether it’s turning on a porch light, displaying an awareness lawn sign, or stepping out for the Childcan Pyjama Walk. Together, we can shine a light on the courage of our young heroes and make a real difference this September."
After Chatham-Kent's flag raising on August 29, there will also be flag raisings in Huron County on September 1 and Caesars Windsor will glow gold from September 1 to 7 to raise awareness for the cause.
There are also Childcan Pyjama walks taking place at Springbank Gardens in London on September 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 22.
You can find more information about ways that you can raise awareness about childhood cancer in September by clicking here.