Through the simple act of wearing a hat, participants in the annual #HatsOn4CPC campaign come together each year on the 2nd Friday of October to advocate for a compassionate approach to care that meets the unique needs of children who have life-threatening incurable illnesses. Now in its 12th year, the ICPCN launched the first Hats On for Children’s Palliative Care Campaign back in 2014 and it is one of our proudest achievements.
The symbol of the hat was chosen as it’s a way to highlight the many hats that families wear when caring for a seriously ill child – whether that’s giving personal cares, administering medication, navigating a complex system of health and social care, securing equipment, dealing with finances, let alone caring for other children and family members. It also reflects the layer of comfort and protection provided by health and social care professionals. ICPCN wants everyone to put on their hats to celebrate these amazing children, families and the caring professionals who support them.
As Reggie’s mum Melissa said in last year’s campaign
‘What roles didn’t I play! It’s both a blessing and a curse when you have a child who can’t clearly articulate their wishes, who isn’t mature enough to understand. They are unaware of how dire their situation is but this leaves you as a parent the sole decision maker for every element of their life and essentially how long they will have to live it and what their life will look like. The questions are never ending. On top of that you are their playmate, their confidant, their safe place, their everything really… So essentially as a parent you wear every hat. You make life and death decisions, you make decisions on quality of life, you comfort them through hard times, all while trying to offer them the time of their life. You are everything to them, 24 hours a day, because when your child has a life-limiting illness everything matters, how they spend every minute of their life matters.’
Over the years there have been different points of focus for the campaign. This year we have kept it simple and fun – wearing a hat as part of ICPCN’s 20th Anniversary celebrations. Last year the campaign focused on some of the key gaps in children’s palliative care that had been highlighted in ICPCN’s 2023/4 mapping survey, sharing statistics about:
- Patchy levels of CPC development
- Limited development of national CPC policies
- Lack of sustainable funding for services
- Poor access to essential medicines
- Lack of training and education for doctors, nurses and other professioals
- Insufficient research and evidence
The #HatsOn4CPC campaign is instrumental in bridging these gaps through advocacy and community engagement. By encouraging individuals to share their stories on social media, the campaign creates a visible and heartfelt movement dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of children’s palliative care. The playful element of the campaign helps to dispel the myth that palliative care for children is just about death and dying – it’s also about having fun with children, families, colleagues and your community.
Each hat worn serves as a symbol of solidarity and support, fostering connections among families, healthcare providers, and community members. Through the voices of families who have experienced the profound impact of palliative care, the campaign highlights stories of hope, resilience, and love. These testimonials not only illuminate the transformative power of compassionate care but also inspire others to become advocates for change.
How to Get Involved
Participating in the Hats On campaign is both simple and profoundly impactful. Individuals can join by wearing hats, sharing their personal experiences on social media platforms, and attending community events dedicated to the cause. Schools, businesses, and local organisations can also participate by hosting fundraising events or awareness days. Making a donation to either a local organization providing children’s palliative care or directly to ICPCN can help ensure that families receive the support they need. Even small actions can create ripples of change, fostering a greater understanding of children’s palliative care within the community.
#HatsOn4CPC serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, advocacy, and community in healthcare. By raising awareness and supporting the needs of children facing life-limiting conditions, we can work together to create a future where every child and family receives the care they require. As we wear our hats with pride, let us commit ourselves to spreading the message of hope, love, and unwavering support for children’s palliative care. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and their families, ensuring that no one has to navigate this journey alone.
To take part in this year’s campaign visit icpcn.org/hatson4cpc/ where you can download the 2025 #HatsOn4CPC Toolkit and register your Hats On event on our global map.
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