Governor Deal Proclaims September as Childhood Awareness Month: Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance Joins Governor & Legislators to Raise Cancer Awareness

9/10/2015

ATLANTA (September 9, 2015) – Today at the Georgia State Capitol, Governor Nathan Deal proclaimed September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Deal was joined by the Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance, comprised of fifteen organizations committed to the fight against pediatric cancer, Ashley McCann, childhood cancer advocate and wife of NY Yankees catcher Brian McCann, and Georgia State Senators  Judson Hill and John Albers, longtime pediatric cancer advocates who co-authored Senate Resolution 492 in recognition of childhood cancer awareness month.

Young cancer patients spoke at the ceremony, including seven-year-old Jessie Claire Churchwell, eight-year-old Mary Tipton Carter and her mother, Nicole Carter, and 18-year-old Sarah Barr, who was not able to attend in person but sent a touching letter read by Senator Hill.

Video footage and photos from today’s event are available for download by clicking on the links.

“The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children and survivorship issues, and to help raise funds for research and family support,” the resolution reads. “In the United States, the incidence of cancer among adolescents and young adults is increasing at a greater rate than any other age group except those over 65 years of age; and on any given school day, approximately 50 children will be diagnosed cancer. The State of Georgia recognizes the devastating long-term effects of cancer on children and encourages childhood cancer awareness and education.”

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children from birth to age 15. Each year, more than 15,000 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed.

The Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance hopes to be the driving force in increasing awareness of childhood cancer. Its goal is to enhance support for young people fighting this disease and the clinicians and researchers who are helping them. 

The Stop Childhood Cancer Alliance consists of 15 organizations, including The Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Inc., The Amanda Riley Foundation, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Blue Skies, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Camp Sunshine, CURE Childhood Cancer, Curing Kids Cancer, Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, Ian's Friends Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lighthouse Family Retreat, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and The Taylor Brooks Foundation.