WHEREAS, each year in the United States, more than 17,000 children are diagnosed with cancer, equal to about 46 childhood cancer diagnoses each day; and

WHEREAS, approximately one in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer before their twentieth birthday with this number increasing each year; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately 40,000 children on active treatment; and

WHEREAS, 359 children, on average, will be diagnosed with childhood cancer in the Commonwealth of Virginia this year; and

WHEREAS, worldwide, there are more than 400,000 new childhood cancer diagnoses every year; and

WHEREAS, childhood cancer is the leading cause of childhood death by disease, and while great strides have been made to bring the five-year survival rate to 85%, over 1,000 American children die each year from cancer; and

WHEREAS, 95% of children that beat cancer will face at least one chronic health condition later in life including possible heart, liver, or lung damage, infertility, secondary cancers, and growth deficits; and

WHEREAS, the causes of childhood cancer are largely unknown, and more research is needed to identify the most effective treatments for children; and

WHEREAS, with more types and variances than adult cancers, cancer treatment for children often differs from traditional adult treatments due to a child’s developmental needs and other factors; and

WHEREAS, there are hundreds of children being treated for cancer in Virginia at University of Virginia Children’s Hospital (Charlottesville), Children’s Hospital of Richmond (Richmond), Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital (Falls Church), Children’s National Northern Virginia (Fairfax), and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (Norfolk); and

WHEREAS, Virginians are encouraged to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and support this cause that so deeply impacts families in every community across the Commonwealth and the nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 2024, as CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.