HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-01 Proclamation - Childhood Cancer Awareness MonthWHEREAS, each year in the United States more than 15,780 children from birth to 19 years old are
diagnosed with cancer, equal to about 42 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, each year worldwide, there are more than 300,000 new childhood cancer diagnoses, equal to
about every 3 minutes a family will hear the words “Your child has cancer”; and
WHEREAS, although the five-year survival rate for childhood cancers has reached 84 percent, nearly
1,500 American children under the age of nineteen still die each year from cancer, making it the leading
killer of children by disease; and
WHEREAS, two thirds that do survive will face at least one chronic health condition later on in life, not
limited to, but including heart, liver, lung damage, infertility, secondary cancers and growth deficits;
and
WHEREAS, the causes of childhood cancer are largely unknown and more studies are needed to
understand which treatments work best for children; and
WHEREAS, cancer treatment for children often must differ from traditional adult treatments to take into
account children’s developmental needs and other factors – there are more types/variances of
childhood cancers than adult cancers; and
WHEREAS, there are hundreds of children being treated for cancer in Washington State with locations at
Seattle Children’s Hospital (Seattle), Mary Bridge Hospital (Tacoma) and Shriners Hospitals for Children
(Spokane); and
WHEREAS, Washington is a caring state and community that supports children and families;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Allan Ekberg, Mayor of the City of Tukwila, do hereby proclaim September as:
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
in the City of Tukwila and encourage all community members to join me in recognizing this special
observance.
Signed this first day of September, 2021.
______________________________________
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Office of the Mayor
City of Tukwila, Washington PROCLAMATION