This color represents struggle and courage, life and strength – what a child fighting cancer needs every day, according to a press release from the “Moms’ Union”.
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Not losing hope in the hardest times
September is the awareness month for children with cancer, when worldwide attention is drawn to pediatric oncology, the challenges of treatment, and the importance of community support.
Unfortunately, the number of children with cancer is increasing worldwide. Every year, about 100 children across Lithuania receive a serious diagnosis.
“Scientific research and doctors’ experience show that children who feel strong support from loved ones and society recover faster and overcome treatment challenges more easily. Warm words, signs of attention, and knowing that others support them give them emotional strength to fight and not lose hope, so such events become a meaningful contribution to children’s health,” says Justina Mėlinauskaitė, head of the support and charity foundation for children with cancer and their families.
Inviting to pause and reflect
Founder of the foundation Eglė Mėlinauskienė states that every September, attention is drawn to those children who will spend this period not with family or friends thinking about the new school year, but in the hospital.
According to E. Mėlinauskienė, by illuminating cities in red, we not only support children who are ill but also invite everyone to pause, reflect, and contribute to helping them. Every ray of light sends encouragement, a warm thought, and a silent promise not to forget.
An initiative running for three years
The meaningful campaign – illuminating the country’s buildings in red – has been taking place since 2023 and is the youngest but already becoming a tradition of the foundation’s initiatives, with more municipalities, museums, schools, kindergartens, organizations, and others joining every year.
“We want to remind a very simple but extremely important message for the child and their family – you are not alone. A child’s cancer affects not only the child but the entire family. Treatment can last a long time, so the family needs not only medical help but also emotional support, understanding, security, and the presence of the community. A building lit in red becomes a public sign that these children and their families are seen, that their experiences matter to us, and that the whole community can contribute to their path to recovery,” says E. Mėlinauskienė.
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Red is the foundation’s symbolic color. It is very vivid, strong, and visible. For us, it means courage, determination, and strength – feelings that a child affected by cancer and their family need every day. It is also the color of the heart. Buildings, monuments, bridges, fountains illuminated in red are a sign that all our hearts are with those who currently need support the most.
Not all children go to school in September
The foundation’s founder says she wants a person who sees a building lit in red to pause for a moment and think about a child who tonight is not on the playground, not with friends, or preparing for school, but is in the hospital.
“We want that light to be encouragement for children and their families, and a reminder to society that each of us can be part of a child’s recovery. Sometimes it is very important not only to help but also to show that you see, understand, and are there,” says the foundation’s founder.
Solidarity and community support have huge emotional significance. For a family living for a long time between the hospital, procedures, anxiety, and uncertainty, it is very important to know that they are not left alone.
And behind such visibility lies very concrete help. The foundation takes care of treatment accessibility, accommodation, rehabilitation, psychological and social support. Near Santaros Clinics, the foundation has established Family Houses and a Rehabilitation Center, where rehabilitation services are provided free of charge to children affected by cancer from all over Lithuania. Families do not need to worry about accommodation. The foundation provides both lodging and assistance under one roof. Families are temporarily given not only a second home but also ensured that the best rehabilitation specialists work with the child as long as needed for the child to regain strength faster.
The most important thing is that help does not end in September
September is a special month for the support foundation, so several initiatives take place during it. “We invite people not only to observe the campaigns but also to become part of them – to volunteer, contribute to support projects, become blood donors, share information about children’s oncology and our organized activities,” urges E. Mėlinauskienė. “We also invite you not to be indifferent if a family affected by cancer lives nearby – offer help to the family, maybe they need a ride somewhere or something brought from the store, ask if you could bring soup to the mother and child, etc. We encourage attentiveness and mutual community support. Together, not only the child but also the family and everyone around recover.
The most important thing is that help does not end in September. Our goal is to create a long-term community that will be alongside families throughout the treatment and after it.”
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