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Footy Colours Day helps kids score learning goals

Thursday 26 September 2019 in Celebrations

Footy Colours Day brightened the Centre recently when staff sported the vibrant colours of Aussie football teams to raise money to help kids with cancer catch up on education.

"Celebrating Footy Colours Day at The Cancer Centre for Children is always exciting, fun and encouraging, especially when staff don their team colours and support Back on Track," said Marianne Fernandes, Education Program Coordinator at the Hospital.

Children with cancer need educational support and Footy Colours Day, as the Fight Cancer Foundation's national fundraising event, helps provide vital assistance. On average, children with cancer miss out on more than six months of school which can have long term effects if they are not provided with the help they need.

More than 950 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia. Treatment and procedures mean they spend long periods of time away from school and often fall behind in their school work, lose touch with school life and classroom activities and become isolated from friends. This has a significant impact on their academic success and many children drop class levels when they return to school and struggle to engage with their education again.

Back on Track is a wraparound educational support service for children and adolescents who are missing school because of their cancer treatment. Funds raised through Footy Colours Day go to Back on Track's Education Program which provides coordinators to keep children and adolescents connected to their learning, peers and school community.

By working closely to help schools plan and implement support strategies, working with children while they are inpatients and outpatients, advocating on behalf of families and educating peers on how to support the ill-child, Back on Track plays an important role in reducing the isolating effects of cancer.

The colourful jerseys worn by supporters, that raised awareness and funds for Back on Track, will help children with cancer reach their full educational, professional and vocational potential.

 

 

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