The American
Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a non-profit charitable institution
that focuses on providing support to families of children diagnosed with
cancer. The organization is also involved in funding research projects that
target the prevention of the disease.
The ACCO was established in 1970 by parents
of children who had survived cancer. Based in Washington, D.C., the
organization’s initial focus was to create awareness in the government and to
lobby for more resources to fund research programs on the prevention of cancer
in children.
Today the organization has over 150,000
members nationwide composed primarily of children with cancer, their families, survivors
of childhood cancer, and educators.
Together with their members, the ACCO is actively providing free
materials to the families of children with cancer on the treatment and these
effects. In addition to providing free
books, the ACCO operates a national help line to assist in referring these
families to local similar organizations.