SCCS marks International Childhood Cancer Day with public exhibition in Kuching

KUCHING (Feb 14): The Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) is launching a special awareness programme and public exhibition in conjunction with International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) on Feb 15.

SCCS said the campaign, themed ‘Demonstrating Impact: From Challenge to Change’, aims to highlight the real impact of community support on children battling cancer, in line with the global theme.

Observed worldwide every year, ICCD brings communities together to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the realities faced by young patients, survivors and their families.

ICCD 2026 marks the final year of the global three-year campaign ‘Equal Access to Care for All Children with Cancer’, led by Childhood Cancer International (CCI) and International Society of Pediatric Oncology (Siop).

The programme focuses on how collective action is turning challenges into meaningful change.

In Sarawak, SCCS demonstrates this impact through the journeys of children such as Samuel, Jessie, Daniel, Ariyana, Andrian and Deo, each of whom faced life-threatening diagnoses and long, complex treatment journeys that include chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplants, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

“With sustained support from SCCS and the wider community, these children are now well on their way to recovery, returning to school, reuniting with families, and rebuilding their childhoods,” the society said in a statement on Friday.

To bring these stories closer to the public, SCCS has orgranised a photo and story exhibition at The Hills Shopping Mall here from Feb 10 to 15, with the support of Busy Goose Market and The Hills.

The display features before-and-after portraits of young patients, highlighting the positive impact of timely and specialised care — a reminder that access to treatment can save lives.

Throughout the week, SCCS is also rolling out a social media story series featuring real patient journeys and educational content to help the public better understand childhood cancer and the importance of sustained support.

Globally, ICCD 2026 focuses on impact by comparing the challenges faced by the childhood cancer community with the actions taken to address them.

“By sharing stories of progress and remaining gaps, the campaign strengthens advocacy for equal access to care for every child with cancer, regardless of geography or background,” SCCS said.

In Sarawak, the challenges often involve families traveling hundreds of kilometers from rural areas to Kuching for specialised treatment.

SCCS addresses this through a holistic support system that includes medical aid, accommodation, transport and psychosocial care.

Members of the public who wish to support SCCS may contribute via its official website https://sccs.org.my/donate-now/ or call the society on 082-686276 to be part of efforts to save young lives.