News
29 January 2018

One World. One Day. One Aim. World Cancer Day 2018

This coming 4 February, the world will be sharpening its focus on cancer and the world's response to this critical health issue. 

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4 February is a day where organisations, individuals, communities, schools and governments from all over the world come together, united in an urgent call to reduce the global impact of cancer. 

We invite you to join us on this day, with one voice and one aim of raising awareness, education and aid against cancer. 

Why does World Cancer Day matter? 

With 8.8 million deaths from cancer every year, worldwide (4.4 million of which are premature deaths), and as that number is projected to rise to over 14 million per year over the next ten years, there is an urgent need to continue to push for forward progress in the fight against cancer.

Through raising public awareness, mobilising governments, the media and individuals to take further action against the disease on World Cancer Day, it will support global efforts to reduce the number of premature deaths and to help save millions of lives. 

One United Voice

World Cancer Day is the single initiative in which the world rallies under the one banner in a positive and inspiring way. 

With a united voice and united goals, we can take decisive action and make accelerated progress in reducing the impact that cancer has on the people we love, our communities and the wider world.

Watch the world light up for World Cancer Day 

Cities around the world will be signalling their commitment to the global challenge of cancer by lighting up their major landmarks in the World Cancer Day colours of orange and blue. 

Keep your eyes out on the following buildings and landmarks, which are set to light up in orange and blue on 4 February: 

  • City of the arts and Sciences Museum, Valencia, Spain
  • Pazo de Raxoi (City Council Building), Santiago, Spain
  • Caretta Shiodome, Tokyo, Japan
  • Railway Station, Mumbai, India
  • Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi
  • BT Tower, London, United Kingdom
  • Niagara Falls, including the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, through the Niagara Falls Illumination Board, Canada
  • Jet D'eau, Geneva, Switzerland 
  • Zakim Bridge, Boston, US
  • Queens's Way Clock Tower, Kampala, Uganda
  • Main Monuments, including Independence Angel, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Hellenic Parliament, Athens, Greece
  • Le Royal Hotels & Resorts, Amman
  • The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
  • Petra National Trust, Jordan 
  • Manchester City Town Hall, United Kingdom
  • Galata Tower, Istanbul, Turkey
  • One of the three Bophorus Bridge, Istanbul Turkey 
  • Story Bridge and Victoria Bridge, Brisbane, Australia
  • Nacional Congress, Grêmio FBPA Arena, Beira-Rio Stadium, Gua íba Bridge and São Migue, Porto Alegre, Brazil

If any of these landmarks are in your neighbourhood, take a photo of it on Sunday and share it with the world on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Amplifying around the globe

2018 is the final year of the three year 'We Can. I Can.' campaign which has built incredible momentum over the past couple of years with the empowering message that everyone has the power to take action. This coming World Cancer Day we want to have an even bigger impact than ever before. 

Through social media and the global media, we reached a collective audience of at least 7 billion last year and want to continue to reach more and more supporters. 

"Social media is transforming the way we raise awareness about cancer, and is an essential tool in how we educate and engage the public about cancer-related issues, such as new treatments, prevention, survivorship, clinical trials, advocacy, and funding." - Rick Buck, Senior Director of Communications and Public Relations, American Association for Cancer Research

We invite you to share your stories, thoughts, and perspectives and to create wider conversations on social media and tag them with the official hashtags #WorldCancerDay and #WeCanICan so these discussions can help to keep cancer at the top of the global health agenda. 

Signs for Change 

This World Cancer Day, we are asking everyone to get involved with our Signs For Change social media activity to make change happen.

Join thousands of supporters and hold up your World Cancer Day sign and show what actions you're taking, what you want policy makers need to start doing, and asking what more can be done in the fight against cancer. 

One week to go checklist: 

  • Sign up to the World Cancer Day Thunderclap Campaign and lend your social reach to help amplify the World Cancer Day message
  • Raise awareness by sharing the World Cancer Day posters, factsheets, and infographics
  • Add your World Cancer Day activity to the Map of Impact to let the world know what you're planning
  • Take a photo with your World Cancer Day sign for the Signs for Change social media activity 

For more information, visit worldcancerday.org

Last update

Friday 07 June 2019

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