WHEREAS, Alaska’s children are our most precious resource and their well-being is integral to a bright future for our state; and
WHEREAS, childhood cancer is especially tragic and is the number one disease causing the death of children in the United States. It spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region, but unlike many other cancers, childhood cancer is not typically caused by lifestyle or environmental factors; and
WHEREAS, childhood cancer is not one singular disease; but rather made up of more than 12 major types and over 100 subtypes, with the most common being leukemia.; and
WHEREAS, over 14,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, 60 percent before the age of five; but due to better therapies and treatment options, more than 80 percent of childhood cancer patients survive to become long-term cancer survivors; and
WHEREAS, we are grateful for the advancements in technology and treatment, which give Alaskans more options to receive care in Alaska where they can be near family and friends, enhancing the effectiveness of treatment and the quality of life for these children and their families; and
WHEREAS, throughout this month, we honor the children and families whose lives have been forever altered by childhood cancer, and we thank the dedicated professionals, researchers, individuals, organizations, and communities who support and care for them.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Michael J. Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim September 2019 as:
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to support cancer patients, survivors, their families, and caregivers; remember the lives of those we have lost; and encourage those who are working to find cures.
