Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport's curbside canopies, completed this month, will be lit up in gold for childhood cancer awareness during the evenings this weekend.

A test run of the gold canopy Thursday evening. Source: Rally Foundation
icon to expand image

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is a sponsor of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, and Delta CEO Ed Bastian has twice run the New York City Marathon to raise money for the Rally Foundation.

Hartsfield-Jackson has a canopy that lights up in colors for holidays and events It was green for St. Patrick's Day, for example, and had hearts for Valentine's Day. The canopy can be red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. Christmas brought red and green lights on the canopy There's a multi-colored canopy design for spring. And for New Year's, when Atlanta has the peach drop, there's a design with images of peaches A flag for Presidents Day Thanksgiving Memorial Day And a standard "white cool low"

The Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company, a cooperative of airlines including Delta that handles operations and maintenance at the airport, with the Rally Foundation led a parade of childhood cancer survivors and supporters around the domestic terminal at the world's busiest airport Friday morning.

September 20, 2019  Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: Airport: Dr. Kofi Smith, President & CEO, Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company (left) Sara Breneman-12, a cancer patient from Newnan, Georgia (center) and Dean Crowe, Founder & CEO, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (right) march through the South Terminal Friday. The canopies turned gold Friday night, Sept. 20, 2019 and will remain that way until September 23rd at Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport in honor of childhood cancer awareness. Airport and airline partners, City dignitaries along with families fighting childhood cancer, survivors and supporters rallied in the South Terminal on Friday where presentations were made to dozens of supporters. After the presentation, the group held a “Rally Walk” around the domestic terminal in parade form, wearing the #GOLDSTRONG shirts and holding posters to bring awareness to childhood cancer. Governor Kemp’s Proclamation, proclaiming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Georgia was acknowledged and a statement from Senator Johnny Isakson was read. Childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of kids ages 0 to 15. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

icon to expand image

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

The canopies will be illuminated in gold overnight Sept. 20-23.

About the Author