“World Cancer Day reminds us of the global emergency that is cancer and how each of us play our part in controlling the disease.” So take a few minutes out of your day to read this post and learn how to take action today! Here at Givey we are passionate about the problems facing the world. We believe that providing avenues to take action can make all the difference. Cancer is one of the most relevant issues facing the world today, affecting 18.1 million people. So if cancer is a cause dear to your heart, or just something you want to learn more about, you have come to the right place.
What is World Cancer Day?
Have you or a loved one ever been effected by cancer? Today, cancer is the second leading cause of death world wide. The impact of cancer isn’t just felt by those diagnosed with it but by the networks of friends and family who have lost a loved one, or watched a loved one battle the disease.
This is why World Cancer Day is so important. If we raise awareness for the disease and promote practices to prevent cancer, methods to detect it early, and encourage research into new ways to treat it, we can greatly reduce the number of lives lost.
Moreover, the majority of cancer related deaths are in low to middle income countries, and cancer treatment is not as readily available to more than half the world’s population. This is called the Care Gap. Low to middle income countries are not as equipped to deal with the rising numbers of people diagnosed with cancer. Other factors including race, gender and class might also limit access to care.
World Cancer Day exists to bring attention to problems like the Care Gap, raising awareness can play a big role in closing this gap. All in all, World Cancer Day is about remembering why we need to continue to find new innovative treatments, and bringing attention to the areas in which treatment could be improved.
How to Take Action
Taking action to raise awareness and contribute to evolving cancer treatments can look different depending on your situation.
So, here are four ways you can make a difference today!
- Donations
If you have money to give, no matter how much or how little, there is an array of places where it can be put to good use. At Givey we have lots of different charities and fundraisers where your money could help make a difference. We focus on supporting small to medium sized charities because often more of your money goes to the cause it’s supporting.
Here are a few cancer related charities you can check out on Givey right now:
Cancer Central
Hello Beautiful
Cancer Education
If you are someone who struggles with making decisions, especially in the face of endless options, think if there is a specific type of cancer that is dear to your heart. Maybe a friend, a family member, or even you, has dealt with it before. You can look for charities who are researching that specific type of cancer, or people in need of funding. You can also do some research into the type of charity you want to allocate your money too. At the end of the day whatever you choose to do with your money, you can feel good about helping others through their cancer journey. - Educate Yourself
Time is a valuable asset. Even if it’s just a few minutes, taking some time out of your day to have a conversation, make a social media post, participate in a quiz etc, can make a difference. The World Cancer Day website has a variety of activities you can do to contribute to the cause. They cater to whatever amount of time you have whether it be one minute or one hour.
Podcasts are another great way to learn something new while on the go. Throw one on during your morning commute and expand your knowledge on the chosen topic. Our podcast, The Givey Community, is available on Spotify. It features an episode about the Hello Beautiful Foundation if you want to learn more. - Fundraise
Have a little extra time on your hands? Want to encourage your community to take action? Starting your own fundraiser is a great way to both raise awareness and valuable donations. If you sign up through Givey you can be sure that 100% of the donations go directly to your cause.
There are a lot of different ways to go about fundraising. For example, The Capgemini UK Salesforce practice put on a fundraiser through Givey to raise money for cancer central. Their team biked/ ran/ walked and rode on horseback for a total of 5305 miles. They encouraged people to donate for every mile they travelled. People may be more encouraged to donate to a cause when they see that you have dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to raise awareness.
Another option is to align your fundraising a with personal event like a birthday or Christmas. If you are feeling especially lucky this year you can ask your friends and family members to donate to a cause you have chosen instead of buying you gifts. This is a great way to get your circle involved in the giving spirit. - Participate in awareness events
Was one of your new year’s goals to exercise more? Maybe your goal was to run a 5k, maybe you are already an avid runner, swimmer or biker. Participate in the world cancer day 5k challenge to raise awareness and work towards closing the care gap! If 5k’s aren’t your thing, fear not, there’s plenty of ways to participate in raising awareness that aren’t so sweaty.
You can sign up as a volunteer for local fundraising events like 5k’s in your community. Volunteers are what allow these types of events to happen. In donating your time you would be an integral part of the fight against cancer. There’s also often community events like charity dinners, or speaking events where you can hear from a cancer survivor. If you are passionate about getting involved you can take some time to look into what is available in your community.
Now that you have learned a bit about World Cancer day and how to take action today, check out some of our related blog posts to read more about cancer and fundraising: