Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

World Cancer Day 2019: What It Is and How You Can Get Involved - Now and All Year Long

Feb 1, 2019 5:45 PM ET
Campaign: Connecting Business to Cause

Cancer - we're all way too familiar with this scary word and have all been touched by this awful disease in one manner or another. But what exactly is it? Can it be prevented? What research and actions are being taken to treat and cure cancer?

Cancer, as defined by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), is a disease which occurs when changes in a group of normal cells within the body lead to uncontrolled, abnormal growth forming a lump called a tumour; this is true of all cancers except leukaemia (cancer of the blood). If left untreated, tumours can grow and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release hormones that may affect body function.

World Cancer Day was first launched on February 4, 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris - and now takes place on February 4th each year. The purpose behind World Cancer Day is to promote research, prevent cancer, improve patient services, raise awareness and mobilize the global community to make progress against cancer - and there are a couple ways that you can help do all of those things:

  1. Join us in raising awareness on World Cancer Day! The UICC has created a whole library of resources you can use at https://www.worldcancerday.org/materials. 

  2. Donate & raise money for nonprofits who are dedicated to cancer research, prevention, patient services, advocacy, and resources for those dealing with cancer. America's Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer's workplace giving program (Don't have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click below on each charity's name to learn more about their work, and please donate to them through employee giving!