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Cancer Council ACT invites Canberra to 'brave the cold for a cause' this Daffodil Day 2026

Cancer Council ACT

Key Facts:

• Cancer Council ACT is hosting a Daffodil Day community dip on Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 6:30am at the Red Shed, Lake Burley Griffin, with ACT Brumbies players among those participating.
• This year's Daffodil Day marks 40 years of growing hope, with the official day falling on Thursday 20 August, though people are encouraged to get involved throughout August.
• The cold-water dip is open to all ages, and those who prefer not to take the plunge can get involved by hosting a morning tea, organising a workplace fundraiser, buying daffodils, or making a donation.
• Funds raised support local cancer research, prevention, and support services.

Canberrans are invited to 'brave the cold for a cause' at Cancer Council ACT’s Daffodil Day community dip on Wednesday 19 August, with ACT Brumbies plays among those taking part. The dip will be held from 6:30am at the Red Shed, Lake Burley Griffin, as part of this year’s Daffodil Day celebrations.  

The Daffodil Dip is one of the many ways locals can get involved in Daffodil Day 2026 which this year celebrates 40 years of growing hope.

Cancer Council ACT CEO, Verity Hawkins, said:

''Every participant plays an important part in helping us create a future free from cancer.

"Whether you're taking the plunge, making a donation or cheering from the sidelines, every person who gets involved is helping fund local life-saving cancer research. Together, we're growing hope for the future."

The Daffodil Day community dip is open to all ages, with participants encouraged to invite friends, family and colleagues to join them for a memorable morning dip supporting an important cause.

However, if a cold plunge isn't your style, there are plenty of other ways to get involved:

• Host a morning tea
• Organise a workplace fundraiser
• Buy a bunch of daffodils
• Make a donation - every dollar raised helps make a difference

Be a part of Daffodil Day 2026 and help raise vital funds for cancer research, prevention and support services that benefit people across the ACT. The official day is Thursday, 20 August but you can get involved and help support this special day any time throughout August.

To register and fundraise for the dip, register as a fundraiser here and  book your tickets here.

To find out more about Daffodil Day, please visit daffodilday.com.au.

To find out more about the Daffodil Day Dip, please visit https://www.daffodilday.com.au/event/daffodil-day-dip-2026/home 

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

What: Cancer Council ACT's Daffodil Day

When: Thursday 20 August 2026

Who: Australians can donate and/or get involved

Register: Visit www.daffodilday.com.au

Australian cancer facts and figures

• Almost one in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85
• It’s estimated that over 170,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer last year – that’s more than 466 per day
• It’s estimated that almost 53,500 Australians died from cancer in 2025
• It’s estimated that close to one million of Australia's population will have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years
• Thanks to advances in cancer research, prevention, and early detection, five-year cancer survival rates have risen to 72% - an increase of more than 25% since the 1980s

Funds raised from Daffodil Day can go a long way

• $30 Can help equip cancer researchers with essential chemicals and lab equipment to conduct life-saving research.
• $50 Can help pay for the collection and processing of a blood sample to enable us to discover more about how cancer develops.
• $100 Can help fund up to two hours of a research assistant’s time.
• $200 Helps fund DNA sequencing in a cancer gene, giving us the tools to improve cancer treatments and save lives.
• $250 Helps fund a clinical trial of new immunotherapies for patients with chemo-resistant cancers.
• $500 Can support one undergraduate student to work in a lab on a cancer research project for one week, inspiring the next generation of cancer researchers.
• $1,000 Pays for analysis of two gene samples.
• $5,000 Can help purchase materials for a lab-based cancer project for one year.

About us:

Cancer Council ACT has been advocating for Canberrans living with cancer for nearly 50 years across every aspect of cancer prevention, support and research to alleviate the impact of cancer in the community. Learn more about what we do here. 

Contact details:

For media enquiries, please contact:    

Cancer Council ACT  

P: (02) 6257 9999  E: [email protected]