A coalition of UK charities which work with children and young people with cancer have decided to move Childhood Cancer Awareness month to September, to bring it in line with the rest of the world.

Charities had previously raised awareness of childhood cancer during December in most of the UK. The move brings the whole of the UK into line with other countries of the world that use September as their Childhood Cancer Awareness month, including the USA, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland.

UK charities and support groups also plan to adopt the gold ribbon, which is increasingly becoming the symbol for childhood cancer awareness worldwide.

Although survival rates are now around 75 per cent, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

Among those charities and support groups planning to take part in the month and raise awareness for more support are Clic Sargent, Cancer Research UK, CCLG (Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group) and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Lorraine Clifton, chief executive of Clic Sargent, said: “By combining our awareness-raising efforts about childhood cancer together with other countries in September, we’ll be able to reach more people, and hopefully attract more vital support for families who need it.”

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK’s director of clinical trials, said: “Raising awareness for childhood cancer all together will allow us to concentrate our efforts on discovering better and kinder treatments. Although survival for childhood cancer has improved, there is an urgent need to develop new treatments with fewer side effects, and by working together we can ensure there are even more childhood cancer survivors in the years to come.”