September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month and Arkansas Children’s is asking the community to GO GOLD in support of pediatric cancer awareness and treatment. The Will Golf 4 Kids tournament and Color of Hope Gala committees have committed to raising $5 million to expand services for children with cancer and blood disorders at Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW).
Over the next five years, funds raised will support the addition of a pediatric oncologist, nurses, and support services staff for the ACNW hematology/oncology program, creating as many as six new positions.
The investment will also expand ACNW’s central monitoring systems to the inpatient unit to serve children with cancer and blood disorders and enhance care for higher acuity patients. Additionally, ACNW’s pharmacology services will also grow through the investment, allowing the hospital to prepare more complex treatments and keep children close to home for their cancer care.
“Arkansas Children’s Northwest was built with the generosity from the community and designed to grow and expand to provide what children in Northwest Arkansas need,” said Fred Scarborough, CFRE, chief development officer for Arkansas Children’s and president of the Arkansas Children’s Foundation. “As the population in Northwest Arkansas increases, Arkansas Children’s Northwest, with the support and investment from the region, will be able to deliver more care close to home.”
While tremendous advancements have been made in addressing childhood cancer, with death rates for this age group declining 65 percent from 1970 to 2016, cancer continues to be the leading cause of death from disease among children.
GOLD is the color worn in solidarity by those committed to spotlighting the need for increased awareness and advances in treatment to eradicate one of the leading causes of death by disease in our children.
Find out more information at give.archildrens.org .