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PROCLAMATION PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR IN RECOGNITION OF CHILDOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2019
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WHEREAS: Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children; and
WHEREAS: 1 in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed by their 20th birthday; and
WHEREAS: 43 children per day or 15,780 children are diagnosed with cancer annually in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS: There are approximately 40,000 children on active treatment at any given time; and
WHEREAS: The average age of diagnosis is 6 years old, compared to 66 years for adults’ cancer diagnosis; and
WHEREAS: 80% of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and
WHEREAS: On the average, there’s been a 0.6 % increase in incidence per year since the mid-1970’s resulting in an overall incidence increase of 24% over the last 40 years; and
WHEREAS: Two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of their treatment toxicity, with one quarter being classified as severe to life-threatening; and
WHEREAS: Approximately one half of childhood cancer families rate the associated financial toxicity due to out-of-pocket expenses as considerable to severe; and
WHEREAS: In the last 20 years only four new drugs have been approved by the FDA to specifically treat childhood cancer; and
WHEREAS: The National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs of childhood cancer and the associated need for increased funding to carry this out; and
WHEREAS: Hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local and national level including the Friends of Faith Pruden Foundation are helping children with cancer and their families cope through educational, emotional and financial support; and
WHEREAS: Researchers and healthcare professionals work diligently dedicating their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer; and
WHEREAS: Too many children are affected by this deadly disease and more must be done to raise awareness and find a cure; and
WHEREAS: The City of Gahanna is honored to take part in the observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and supports this cause that so deeply impacts families in every community across our country; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Thomas R. Kneeland, Mayor of the City of Gahanna, Ohio, do urge Gahanna citizens to join me in recognizing the awareness for childhood cancer. I do hereby proclaim the month of September 2019, as
CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Gahanna, Ohio, to be affixed on this 3rd day of September in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand Nineteen.
Thomas R. Kneeland, Mayor