Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the United States, announced the creation of an advisory council of highly respected authorities in childhood cancer and related fields, as well as individuals directly impacted by pediatric cancer. Together, they will provide expert perspectives to help guide the Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign, which aims to provide innovative care and support to each of the more than 15,000 children newly diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. The goal of this campaign is to help build a greater movement around the cause.

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign Advisory Council will provide input on the program's comprehensive strategies, including efforts to raise awareness and to support research, treatment, and the social-emotional needs of children and families facing pediatric cancer. One element of the program is My Special Aflac Duck™, an award-winning robotic companion for children who have cancer. Beginning in September 2018, the company will donate My Special Aflac Ducks at no cost to any child in the U.S., ages three and up, newly diagnosed with cancer.

"Childhood cancer is too big for any one organization to tackle alone. We are deeply grateful to the Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign Advisory Council members for selflessly lending their time and expertise to advance our shared goal of offering innovations like the My Special Aflac Duck in support of these brave children as they go through their treatment," Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos said. "The considered input of this panel of esteemed leaders in the field will help ensure that our resources are being utilized to the utmost advantage in supporting pediatric cancer patients."

Aflac welcomed the following leaders to the Advisory Council:

• Peter C. Adamson, M.D., chair of the Children's Oncology Group, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

• Emily Belcher, issue champion and mother of a child who is now stable while dealing with cancer.

• Talia Holden-Brooks, Psy.D., clinical psychologist; patient advocate, Children's Oncology Group.

• Douglas K. Graham, M.D., Ph.D.; director, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

• Moira Gunn, Ph.D., professor of global information systems and biotechnology in the School of Business and Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco; host, Tech Nation and BioTech Nation.

• Eugene W. Johnson, M.S., M.A., RN, CCLS; committee chair, Association of Child Life Professionals; coordinator, Child Life Department at Huntsville Hospital.

"I recently had the opportunity to spend time with the members of the council at their inaugural meeting and was extremely impressed by their insights and dedication. We are honored to work with such an outstanding group of advisors on this important cause," said Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos. "Aflac's mission is to help people when they need it most, and I can think of no better way to illustrate this commitment than to help children and families impacted by cancer. I want to thank every member of this Advisory Council for their dedication to children and families and their compassionate drive to serve the community."