More than 7,000 employees take part in #AmazonGoesGold 2022

Now in its sixth year, the #AmazonGoesGold initiative sees Amazon teams run special events and volunteering drives to support local families affected by childhood cancer, at sites around the world. This year, these included volunteering programmes at local hospices and ‘Pyjama Awareness Days’ at sites across the country.

We are thrilled to announce that Amazon has raised over $5.6m for 426 charities around the world specialising in childhood cancer prevention and treatment. This achievement is the result of 159,000 of our team members working out of 1,000 Amazon sites in 38 countries around the globe - all working to help bring an end to childhood cancer.

We are proud to support and collaborate with childhood cancer organisations across Europe who make it possible for every child affected by cancer to fight for their future. This year’s charity partners include the Starlight Foundation and Childhood Cancer Ireland.

We’re also in awe of all the teams who took part by wearing pyjamas or gold to work, packed STEM kits for children in hospitals, and volunteered at their local children’s hospices. In total, 7,470 employees across 173 operations sites and three corporate offices, and from all sides of our business across the UK and Ireland stood in solidarity with children going through cancer treatment and their families.

Come to work in pyjamas, or go bold in gold!

Each year to support #AmazonGoesGold employees come to work in their pyjamas or dressed in gold to stand in solidarity with the children who often have to wear their own pyjamas throughout their treatment. Gold clothes are symbolic too - the gold ribbon is the international symbol of childhood cancer awareness.

“It was great to take part in Amazon in Dunfermline’s Pyjama Day and help spread awareness of the realities of childhood cancer,” said Aoife Considine, one of the many Amazon employees that took part in Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer. “I’m so pleased that we could offer support to such an important cause.”

This year, 2,910 employees from 68 Amazon locations in the UK got involved and dressed for the occasion, including John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK Country Manager. Sites came together and had an opportunity to win a £5,000 donation for a children’s cancer charity of their choice.

Employees at the Warrington fulfilment center in England Going Gold

The team at Dublin's Baldonnel fulfillment center celebrating Amazon Goes Gold

Staff at Amazon's Gourock fulfilment center in Scotland raising awareness for Childhood Cancer

Building STEM kits with the Starlight Foundation

Children who have to spend long periods of time in hospitals for procedures and treatments can become anxious and bored, that’s why our volunteers worked hard to make sure 9,000 children across 69 hospitals received ‘STEM kits’.

These kits contained a STEM toy, pencil case and notebook, as well as a competition sheet to design a new delivery method for Amazon. More than 300 employees from 30 operations sites and 200 employees from 3 corporate offices volunteered over 760 hours of their time to pack the 9,000 STEM kits for children impacted by cancer.

The winner of the competition will receive an experience for themselves worth £5,000 as well as a £5,000 donation to their hospital.

“We have just taken delivery of the STEM boxes from Amazon and we are absolutely amazed by your generosity” said Hazel, a Health Play Specialist at St George’s Tooting. “We have had distraction boxes from you in the past and these have really helped the children we see cope better with the scary procedures that they have to go through.”

“If children don’t have the opportunity to play, they get anxious, bored or frustrated,” said Hazel. “Play is a really good way for a child to forget why they are here, help their recovery and see a positive side of being in hospital”

Supporting ‘Light It Up Gold’ in Ireland

Three of our sites in Ireland hosted their first-ever joint volunteering event in support of Childhood Cancer Ireland’s ‘Light It Up Gold' campaign.

Darragh Kelly, General Manager at Amazon’s fulfilment center in Dublin, said, “this was our first Amazon Goes Gold for Kids with Cancer campaign in Ireland, and we are proud to have partnered with Childhood Cancer Ireland by sponsoring and packing a large number of gift bags for the children they support. We look forward to growing this venture every year, and hope that our support offers encouragement to the charity’s brilliant team and the families they work alongside.”

Employees across Dublin worked in teams to pack 200 ‘off-screen’ kits which were delivered to St John’s Haematology and Oncology Ward. Each kit provides a fun distraction without the need for television screens or computers for children who are going through cancer treatment, allowing them to focus on having fun during challenging treatment sessions.

Employees volunteer at their local hospices

Throughout September, volunteers from 10 Amazon locations across the UK volunteered at their local children’s hospice.

From organising storerooms, cheering at marathons, recording virtual bedtime stories and doing garden makeovers – employees gave up almost 280 hours of their time to make a real impact and help families make the most of every moment they have together. 

Learn more about Amazon’s commitment to supporting local communities.