Climb the Hill

Join Us
Climb the Hill
Your Story Can Change Congress

Join a climb the hill day

Be the Voice of Children With Cancer

— Leave your parents behind

— Congressional meetings led by kids and young adults

— In person and by Zoom

Our Mission & Impact

Mission

In Climb the Hill Days, kids and young adults impacted by pediatric cancer advocate for better treatments, research, and policies by sharing their stories directly with Members of Congress and their staff.

Impact

Before the Climb the Hill Day program began in 2010, Congress had only passed one pediatric cancer bill. The view was that the voices of those with pediatric cancer do not count.

  • Now, after thousands of meetings by kids with cancer and their siblings to explain just how devastating pediatric cancer is, Congress understands that it is critical to pass pediatric cancer bills. As a result, Congress has passed, since 2010,
    — the Creating Hope Priority Review Voucher Program,
    — reauthorizations of the PRV program in 2016, 2020 and 2026,
    — the RACE for Children Act,
    — the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act,
    — the Childhood Cancer STAR Act,
    — the Childhood Cancer STAR Act 2.0,
    — the Gabriella Miller KIDS First Act 1.0,
    — the Gabriella Miller KIDS First Act 2.0.
    Congress has included in the Department of Defense CDMRP provisions for funding for
    — neuroblastoma,
    — pediatric brain cancers,
    — and all pediatric and AYA cancers.

What We Do

Kids and young adults who are patients, survivors and siblings, meet with Congressional offices — both in-person and over Zoom — to share their experiences with pediatric cancer.

Youth advocates educate Senators, Representatives, and Congressional staff about:

  • What pediatric cancer is really like

  • The challenges families face

  • Why research and policy changes matter

There is no-one who can speak more persuasively about kids with cancer than kids with cancer themselves.

Accessibility & Inclusion

Kids who have a mobility issue or little extra going on? Come talk to us. Little kids who know about pediatric cancer are welcome too.

A Climb the Hill Day

  • Sign up for an upcoming Climb the Hill advocacy day.

    APPLY NOW

  • After applying, Jenn will schedule an introductory virtual meeting with you.

    During this meeting, Jenn will:

    • Learn about your experience with pediatric cancer

    • Explain how Climb the Hill works

    • Answer your questions

    • Ensure that you feel prepared and confident

    • If participating is your parent’s idea and you are not so interested, Jenn will recommend that you wait and try again next year.

    • If you are not a patient, survivor or sibling, Jenn will do everything she can to include you. However, at times there are not enough positions for those who are not patients, survivors and siblings.

  • Before your meetings begin, we will train you on:

    • How to lead a professional meetingHow Congress works

    • How to share your personal story

    • How a bill becomes a law

    • Current pediatric cancer legislation before Congress

    You do not need prior advocacy experience. We prepare you every step of the way.

  • Youth advocates are placed into small groups led by experienced Youth Leaders. You'll receive a schedule, a Capitol Hill map, and support from your team.

    You will start the day at 8:30 am. At lunch, you will go to a Congressional cafeteria with your group. We will meet you at around 3:30, at the end of your day.

    Virtual Zoom Meetings

    If participating virtually, you sign up for the meetings you can attend, meet your Youth Leader online, and join meetings with Congressional staff and lawmakers.

    Parents, teachers, and staff step away during the meetings so youth advocates can lead the conversation themselves.

  • You are already an expert. Members of Congress want to understand what pediatric cancer is really like from someone who has lived it.

    You can talk about:

    • Hospital experiences

    • Missing school

    • How cancer affects siblings and friends

    • What being young with cancer feels like

    There is no "perfect" thing to say. Your honesty and presence matter.

    If you do not want to speak during a meeting, that is okay too. Simply being there makes a difference. And by the second meeting — you'll probably feel like a pro.

  • Q: Who can participate?
    A: Kids, teens and young adults who are cancer survivors and their siblings. We invite kids ages 7-25.

    Q: Do I need advocacy experience
    A: No. We provide all the training and support

    Q: Can I participate virtually?
    A: Yes. We offer both in-person and zoom Climb the Hill Days

    Q: How much does it cost?

    A: The Climb the Hill Day is free to kids, teens and young adults with cancer and their siblings. We ask others to make a donation to cover costs.

Kids’ Voices

Want a refresher on how a bill becomes a law? Remember School House Rock?

SIGN UP HERE TO JOIN A CLIMB THE HILL DAY!

Kids v Cancer is honored to have Climbed the Hill with the following partners and more