Cancer Council ACT is launching Daffodil Day 2026 with a special dip in Lake Burley Griffin. Photo: Cancer Council ACT.
To mark 40 years of Daffodil Day, Cancer Council ACT is calling on the community to take a dip into the chilly waters of Lake Burley Griffin to raise money for local cancer research.
All members of the Canberra community are invited to take the plunge alongside players from the ACT Brumbies at The Red Shed at 6:30 am on Wednesday (19 August) to officially kick off Daffodil Day.
Daffodil Day is an iconic annual fundraising event held by the Cancer Council, with businesses often hosting morning teas and lunches and accepting donations from participants.
In Australia, almost one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85, with an estimated 170,000-plus Australians diagnosed with cancer last year, more than 466 per day.
It is also estimated around 53,500 Australians died from cancer in 2025.
Cancer Council ACT CEO Verity Hawkins said Cancer Council ACT and the events it is holding as part of Daffodil Day are vital in helping reduce these numbers.
“The impact of that community support has been extraordinary,” Ms Hawkins said.
“In 1986, the five-year cancer survival rate was approximately 46 per cent. Today it has risen to 72 per cent, meaning nearly three out of four Australians diagnosed with cancer will survive at least five years after diagnosis.
“For 40 years, Daffodil Day has given our community a way to stand together against cancer. Every bunch of daffodils sold, every yellow morning tea, every cold dip, and every dollar donated funds vital research that is happening right now, right here in Canberra.
“We’ve made remarkable progress over the past four decades, but there’s still more work to do.
“Daffodil Day reminds us that when our community comes together, we can help fund better treatments, better outcomes and more hope for families facing cancer.”
Ms Hawkins said the dip is a special way of building excitement for this year’s Daffodil Day while also providing a memorable experience for people to enjoy.
”Every participant plays an important part in helping us create a future free from cancer,” she said.
“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.”
To find out more about Daffodil Day or register for the Burley Griffin dip, visit Cancer Council ACT.
