Poll finds lack of funds & awareness are barriers to finding cures for pediatric cancer

One of our newest partners, Northwestern Mutual, commissioned a poll to determine these key barriers while also aiming to create greater awareness for pediatric cancer.  Take a look at the study below.

MILWAUKEE, September 25, 2012 — Even though thousands of families in the U.S. feel the impact each year of pediatric cancer, a new poll cites that nearly half (49 percent) of Americans are unaware that pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. The poll, executed in September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, was commissioned by Northwestern Mutual as part of its new philanthropic program to generate greater awareness about pediatric cancer.

Not only is cancer the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children 1 to 14 years of age, the causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown according to the National Cancer Institute.

“The survey findings underscore the urgent need to raise awareness and support for pediatric cancer,” said John Kordsmeier, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Through our pediatric cancer program, there is a wealth of opportunities for our financial representatives and employees to increase awareness within their own communities and impact a cause that touches thousands of American families.”
"Northwestern Mutual’s philanthropic efforts will not only increase funding for pediatric cancer research but also bring awareness to the fact that emotional support of families leads to improved health outcomes for the child," said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Global CEO of Starlight Children's Foundation.

In July 2012, Northwestern Mutual launched a national philanthropic program to accelerate the search for a cure to pediatric cancer and to provide support to kids and families facing the daily struggles of this disease. To achieve these goals, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation partners with two national nonprofits, Starlight Children’s Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

As these organizations work collaboratively to support families touched by childhood cancer, most Americans perceive that lack of funds and lack of awareness are the top two issues in fighting the disease, according to the survey.

Most needed for dealing with pediatric cancer:
· Funds to research a cure – 82 percent of survey respondents
· Financial support for families of children receiving treatments – 50 percent of survey respondents

Greatest obstacles in curing pediatric cancer:
· Lack of research funds – 60 percent of survey respondents
· Lack of awareness – 42 percent of survey respondents

Americans also cited lack of public support for pediatric cancer nonprofits (30 percent) and lack of researchers (28 percent) as additional barriers in curing pediatric cancer.

“These findings are in line with the harsh reality of childhood cancer: it is a vastly and consistently underfunded disease,” said Jay Scott, co-executive director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and helping families. “Funding cutting edge research will accelerate a cure for childhood cancer and give hope to those families who are emotionally and financially impacted.”

For more information, visit the Northwestern Mutual Foundation.

Survey Methodology
This research was conducted online by ORC International on behalf of Northwestern Mutual from September 10-12, 2012. The online omnibus study is conducted twice a week among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older. Because the sample is based on those who initially self-selected for participation, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated.