https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/marking-childhood-cancer-awareness-month/

Marking Childhood Cancer Awareness month with play, dance and art

11 Sep 2024, 2:30 p.m.

Last week, we transformed our Lagoon area and Disney Reef into a vibrant dance, music, and art hub, creating a special space for our patients and their siblings in honour of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

While the children enjoyed a day of fun-filled activities, parents, visitors and staff were able to learn more about our upcoming Children’s Cancer Centre and how it will make a difference to all who come to GOSH.

Our special virtual model tour showcased the difference the facility will make, with a focus on children being able to continue their usual activities even while at hospital, with the new roof garden and expanded school highlights.

Join our second upcoming showcase event

If you are in the hospital on 25 and 26 September, visit our showcase events between 11am and 3pm for more activities, including yoga, arts and comedy!

More about our new Children’s Cancer Centre

The Children’s Cancer Centre will be a step change for our cancer services. Currently, the cancer wards and day care services are spread across different buildings in the older parts of the GOSH estate, meaning it can take up to 20 minutes to get between them. Some of the buildings are over 30 years old, with some of the hospital’s most seriously ill patients undergoing chemotherapy being treated in Safari Ward in the 1930’s Southwood Building.

The new Children’s Cancer Centre will bring together the different services needed for specialist cancer care, allowing teams to work more closely together. This will improve the quality of our care, reduce risk and allow rapid access in emergencies.

Imaging, critical care and theatres services will all have extended space in the CCC and as well as delivering cancer care, will also support other specialties from across GOSH, meaning everyone will benefit.

Help build the Children’s Cancer Centre

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) has launched its Build it. Beat it. appeal to raise money to help build the Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH, to help drive transformation in children’s cancer care and save more lives.

Find out how you can support the CCC by visiting the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity website.

  • Young children enjoying activities in the Disney reef

    Enjoying dance activities in the Disney Reef

  • Staff finding out more about the CCC with exhibition boards in the background

    Finding out more about the CCC

  • Graphic of proposed new main entrance at Great Ormond Street Hospital

    Graphic of our new main entrance

  • Staff and volunteers under a golden balloon arch

    Balloon Rooms gifted the golden arch, enjoyed by staff, volunteers and families.

  • Young girl in bed, being shown a TV screen by a member of GOSH staff

    Patient and her mum view the virtual model of the CCC.

Takeover Challenge 2025

Takeover Challenge is a national event that welcomes children and young people into real-life decision-making positions in organisations.

Join us in the countdown to Rare Disease Day 2025

Rare Disease Day takes place annually on the last day of February and is a global opportunity to increase awareness and advocate for those living with rare conditions.

Children’s Cancer Centre: main contractor on board

The contract for the main works to develop our new Children’s Cancer Centre has been awarded to John Sisk & Son (Sisk).

Significant rise in mental health admissions for young people over last decade

The first study of its kind has found a 65% increase in the number of children and young people admitted to general acute medical wards in hospitals in England, because of a mental health concern between 2012 and 2022.