Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children battling cancer, the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) has been uniquely positioned to serve as the leading voice for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, placing us at the forefront of childhood cancer advocacy. For over fifty years, ACCO has been the nation’s largest provider of free educational resources for children with cancer and their families, ensuring that children understand the treatments they are facing and empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children’s care. For more than two decades, we were the only organization on Capitol Hill championing efforts to secure federal appropriations for childhood cancer research funding through the National Institutes of Health.

Cancer kills more children in America than any other disease.

Despite advances in adult cancer treatments, most children still endure harsh therapies including chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgeries, with little change in protocols over the past three decades. These treatments, given during critical developmental stages, lead to lasting effects such as secondary cancers, brain damage, heart disease, learning disabilities, and infertility. ACCO is committed to changing these statistics.