• Leukaemia Foundation unites with UK, US, Canada & New Zealand counterparts for an awareness campaign as blood cancer incidence and mortality continues rising globally
• ‘[This] is Blood Cancer’ international campaign kicks off for Blood Cancer Awareness Month (September)

For the first time, leading global blood cancer organisations, including Australia’s Leukaemia Foundation, have joined forces for international Blood Cancer Awareness Month to fuel the global fight against the disease as incidence and mortality rates continue to climb worldwide.

With Blood Cancer Awareness Month now in its 11th year, this international approach aims to raise a collective voice and put blood cancer at the top of the agenda. 

In a unique collaborative effort, the leaders from Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Blood Cancer UK, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society US, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Canada, and Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand share their united message via a video.

Commencing 1 September, the [This] is Blood Cancer campaign will see public monuments around the world and within Australia glow red during the month of September as well as social media accounts using the hashtag #ThisIsBloodCancer in support for the growing number of people living by blood cancer, everywhere. 

The social media awareness messaging in Australia aims to put blood cancer on the radar in the same way as other cancers such as breast cancer, melanoma, and prostate cancer. Messaging includes:

• Australia’s second most diagnosed cancer is blood cancer
• 50 Aussies newly diagnosed each day is blood cancer
• 15 Aussies losing their life each day is blood cancer
• Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime is blood cancer. 

“When Australians see their local public monuments glowing and their social media floods with blood cancer awareness messaging this September, it is our hope they will pause to reflect on the more than 110,000 Australians already living with a blood cancer and 15 Australians losing their life to one every day this year and support our mission to change these statistics,” said Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti.

Australia’s blood cancer community has set a bold vision to see zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035. As Blood Cancer Awareness Month commences, Australia’s first Blood Cancer Taskforce will be meeting with Federal Parliamentary leaders on 2 September to reinforce the need for urgent action on the National Strategic Action Plan for Blood Cancer which is a key driver to achieving this vision.

For more information about [This] is Blood Cancer please visit www.leukaemia.org.au/bloodcancermonth.