It’s not just a daffodil.
And at this time of year particularly, it’s certainly not just another flower,
The daffodil has become symbolic of the Canadian Cancer Society’s struggle to defeat cancer.
The CCS was founded on March 28, 1938, and with the help of thousands of volunteers and fundraising initiatives such as the annual daffodil sales, it has become Canada’s leading anti-cancer charity. The yellow flower was used by volunteers during the 1950s to decorate tables at fundraising events that became known as Daffodil Teas.
It has become a tradition of the CCS to raise money by accepting donations in exchange for daffodils and by selling daffodil pins through April.
That’s why, throughout this month, you’re likely to see CCS volunteers selling the bright yellow flowers, raising not only money for cancer research and other anti-cancer work, but awareness that, although a lot of solid ground has been won in the battle against cancer, there is still a long road ahead.
Donations to the CCS during Daffodil Month help fund research to outsmart cancer, assist in providing information and delivering programs to prevent cancer, support those living with cancer, and advocate for public policies to improve Canadians’ health.
When the CCS started, the cancer survival rate was about 25 per cent – only one in four people who developed cancer were able to get past it.
Now the average survival rate for Canadians diagnosed with any cancer is above 60 per cent – significantly more than half. And for many once-devastating cancers, the survival rate is approaching 100 per cent.
So those bundles of daffodils in CCS volunteers’ hands, or the daffodil pins on the lapels of passersby are not just about pretty flowers.
They’re about hope, and a fight for life… and everyone fighting together.
– B.G.