BIRMINGHAM — Last year more than 190 children in Alabama were diagnosed with cancer and blood diseases. More than 90 percent of Alabama’s children with these illnesses receive treatment at The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama.

In September, these young warriors and their battles will be spotlighted through a number of special events to commemorate both National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

Children’s invites the public to learn more about its clinical and research programs and to be involved in raising awareness and funding through the following avenues:

• The Children’s website will feature a variety of stories and videos about some of the young patients being treated for cancer and blood disorders. The public is invited to visit www.childrensAL.org/committedtoacure to meet these remarkable children and young adults.
• Children’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog and YouTube channel will feature patient stories that spotlight patients, families and staff.
• Children’s Russell Building on 5th Avenue South will be illuminated in gold in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month throughout September.
• The Curing Childhood Cancer license tag is available at every office of the Alabama Department of Motor Vehicles. Every $50 tag generates $41.25 for the cancer program at Children’s. To date, tag sales have raised more than $3 million for childhood cancer research and patient care.
• The public is invited to share its stories of patients who have fought childhood cancer at www.childofchildrens.org.
• Spectrum-Reach, al.com, Birmingham Medical News, Bham Now, WIAT CBS 42 and public radio stations across the state will run public service announcements about childhood cancer throughout September.
• The 2017 Committed to a Cure Marrow Registry Drive will take place Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 12-5 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 31, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Russell Building Performance Area at Children’s (1601 5th Ave. S., Birmingham) Complimentary parking is available in the Children’s 5th Avenue Parking Deck (1600 5th Ave. S., Birmingham). Bone marrow transplants are used as life-saving treatment for deadly cancers and blood disorders including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell disease. At Children’s, approximately 30 patients receive this lifesaving procedure every year.
• Jam for Sam will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10, beginning at 1 p.m. at Red Hills Brewery (2823 Central Ave, Birmingham). This family-friendly event features local bands and celebrates the life of Sam Lapidus. Tickets are $10 and available at the Levite Jewish Community Center.
• Join the Eli Jackson Foundation for Be Bold, Go Gold on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Collins Chapel Park (13195 County Road 29, Clanton) from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature inflatables, face painting, vendors, princess appearances, a cupcake walk, silent cake auction and more. The Eli Jackson Foundation is dedicated to conquering pediatric brain cancer through funding research and support of children and their families.
• Caitie’s Army will host two events this year to benefit the Hope & Cope Program. A Family Fun Day with BBQ and pound cake cook-offs is set for Saturday, Sept. 16, at Springdale Estates (503 E Three Notch St., Andalusia), and a motorcycle ride including lunch and a day of entertainment will be held on Oct. 7 at the Red Level VFW Post #4388 (4861 Oglesby Rd., Red Level). Caitie’s Army was inspired by Caitie Rhodes of Andalusia, who was diagnosed and treated for brain cancer at Children’s.
• Kendra Scott (225 Summit Blvd., Suite 101, Birmingham) is hosting a Give Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event runs from 12-3 p.m. The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders will receive a percentage of sales from that afternoon.
• The Tapping Out Childhood Cancer Gala, presented by Dancers Fighting Cancer, will be held Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Alabama Theatre (1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham) at 2 p.m. A VIP after-party will be held at Gabrella Manor (8912 4th Ave. S., Birmingham) immediately following the performance. There will also be a one-day intensive on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 12:30 p.m. at Alabama Ballet (2726 1st Ave S, Birmingham).
• Children’s will also host its annual Advancement in the Care of Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Symposium on Oct. 20. Experts from Children’s and the University of Alabama at Birmingham will discuss the latest therapies and common challenges in treating childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders.
• The Alabama Grocers Association, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, and the Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Association are sponsoring the “Buy Alabama’s Best” campaign to encourage purchases of Alabama-made food products. A portion of sales of participating products will be donated to Children’s to help find a cure for childhood cancer.

Details about all these events and others, including links to events pages and social media outlets, are available at www.childrensal.org/committedtoacure.

The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders’ unique partnership of local, national and international centers of excellence provides care and treatment for approximately 1,500 children and adolescents with all types of cancers and blood disorders in the state of Alabama and the region each year. The cure rate for childhood cancers has risen from only 50 percent to 84 percent in the last 20 years and strokes in patients with sickle cell disease have decreased 90 percent through standardized screening processes. As a founding member of the Children’s Oncology Group – a worldwide clinical trials organization – research and innovative therapies done at Children’s and UAB help to save the lives of children right down the street and all over the world.