Area children and their families gathered in Whitehall Saturday for the annual Kick for Kancer soccer camp.

Hosted by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, the camp served as an advance kickoff for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in Sept.

The event, held at Schadt Avenue Park and Playground, focused on teamwork, friendship and quality-of-life activities for children who have cancer.

Many different tents were set up around the park. Some offered refreshments and snacks for the children while others offered arts and crafts activities. A respite tent was set up to provide special pampering to moms, dads and caregivers that included pottery and clay work offered by Artists at Heart and games of horseshoes and poker.

Coaches and players from the Quakertown High School boys soccer team volunteered their Saturday morning to guide the children through drills, relays, games and lots of fun activities.

A catered lunch was provided and afternoon activities included soft serve ice cream and sundaes, face painting and balloons with Tootsie the clown.

Founded in 2003, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley organizes events and offers support and resource opportunities to entire families fighting cancer, from diagnosis to long after the battle ends.

In the United States, more than 13,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Currently, one in every 330 children develops cancer before the age of 19 and the frequency of cancer among children is increasing.

There are more than 100 types of cancer, 12 of which are labeled childhood cancers. After accidents, cancer is the number one killer of children under the age of 14.

The next event to honor Pediatric Awareness Month, is the fourth annual Color My World Gala at the Da Vinci Science Center scheduled for Sept. 6.

Other upcoming events include a full-day Chemo Circus under the Big Top on the grounds of Lehigh Valley Health Network Muhlenberg campus Sept. 27 and Oct. 25.