World Cancer Day: how and why should my business play its part?

Our employee benefits team often get asked by their clients about World Cancer Day, and how they can get involved. One of our specialist consultants, Lee Fitzgerald, walks you through why it’s important to not let this annual awareness day go unrecognised by your business.

World Cancer Day, observed every year on February 4th, is not simply just a date in the calendar - it is a global initiative to inspire change and mobilise action. The heart of the 2024 World Cancer Day campaign has the aim of closing the gap in cancer care, by acknowledging the disparities in access to quality care across the globe. By enlisting the support of leaders in various sectors, from healthcare to policymaking, the aim is to push for improved infrastructure, policies, and resources, creating a legacy of positive change beyond the campaign's culmination.

Why should your business recognise World Cancer Day?

Far from just being a ‘nice gesture’, the advantages of aligning your business with World Cancer Day can be much broader and more impactful than you may think:

A chance to show support: 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime (British Journal of Cancer, 2015), so it’s  likely that, no matter the size of your organisation, your people will have been affected by cancer in some way. World Cancer Day is a chance to show those that have been or are being affected by cancer that there is support for them at work, should they need it.

An opportunity to educate, break taboos and encourage important conversations: Early cancer detection can be  vital for treatment success, so this is a key opportunity to educate your people on the signs and symptoms - what to look for and how to look for it.  These sorts of conversations can be uncomfortable and ones we tend to avoid with our peers but normalising them could help create a healthier dialogue in the workplace - it could even be the difference between someone seeking medical advice and brushing something worrying under the carpet.

Reinforces a caring culture: Your people are among your most important assets as a business, and this should be reflected in your culture. Recognising awareness days such as World Cancer Day is a great way to remind your people that you care about their wellbeing beyond just the four walls of the office.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): Honouring important awareness days is also a great way to bolster your CSR and ESG commitments, staking your claim as a company that cares about making a positive social impact.

How can my business recognise World Cancer Day?

Awareness days don’t necessarily call for a huge investment of time and money; the simplest and/or most original ideas can often be the ones that resonate most with your people. While we encourage you to think outside the box, here are a few of our suggestions:

Fundraisers: It sounds simple, but coming up with an idea to raise money for a relevant charity – maybe a bake sale, a sponsored run or fancy dress day – is a brilliant way of not only helping a good cause, but uniting your people.

Educational talks or workshops: These could be from external speakers, medical professionals or from someone internally that has a story to share. Personal experiences can be  very effective at encouraging a change in perceptions and behaviours.

Signpost support resources: Send emails, a newsletter or display posters that clearly outline internal and external avenues of support for those affected by cancer. Make this information widely known and easily accessible 365 days a year, not just on World Cancer Day.

For businesses seeking to actively participate in this meaningful event and contribute to the cause and view the resources available, visit Official website of World Cancer Day by UICC | 4 February.

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For support and advice on how you can design, implement and manage an employee benefits offering that provides optimal value to your people, get in touch with me today.