Mayor Mary K. Ferdon declared the month of September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at the Elevate the Stage fundraising event at The Commons on September 5th.

The event was a pediatric cancer research benefit concert event for Elevate Childhood Cancer, founded by Robyn and Joel Spoon, of Columbus.

Mayor Mary K. Ferdon, Eric Frey, Executive Director of Administration, and Regina McIntyre, City Controller, were guests at the event.

From the proclamation:

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children; and there has been an overall incidence increase of 24% over the last 40 years; and the average age of diagnosis is 6 years old.

80% of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and 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 live-threatening.

Approximately one-half of childhood cancer families rate the associate financial distress due to out-of-pocket expenses as considerable to severe.

In the last 30 years, only 7 new drugs have been approved by the FDA to specifically treat childhood cancer; and the Indiana Legislature recently established a pediatric cancer research and treatment grant program with a priority on innovative research and treatments for pediatric cancer.

The Indiana Cancer Control Plan outlines numerous goals and strategies to improve oncology care and long-term follow-up care for children and adolescents. Indiana researchers and healthcare professionals work diligently dedicating their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer.

Too many children are affected by this deadly disease and more must be done to raise awareness and find a cure.