Children and families affected by childhood cancer will this weekend take part in a number of walks and candlelit vigils nationwide to raise awareness of the disease.

Over 200 children are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every year - that is around four families per week. Two in three diagnoses are in children aged 14 and under. Overall, one in every 300 children in Ireland will be diagnosed with the disease before the age of 20.

This event has been organised by the Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCF) as part of the Light It Up Gold Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of childhood cancer throughout the month of September.

Light It Up Gold is an international campaign and this is the second year it has taken place in Ireland. As part of the campaign, buildings across the world, will shine gold in September, including in Ireland, St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Belfast City Hall and the Dunbrody Famine Ship in Waterford.

Candlelit walks will also take place in Dublin, Cork and Galway on Saturday, September 6, at 6.30pm.

"These walks and candlelit vigils serve to recognise and support the bravery of children undergoing treatment, honour the survivors and remember all the boys and girls who have tragically lost their young lives to this disease," the CCF said.

The walks will be led by the mayor of each city that they are held in and there will be child-friendly entertainment. For more information on the walks or childhood cancer in general, click here or email info@childhoodcancer.ie