Funds Provided For Childhood Cancer Research
Sunday, September 30, 2012 @ 5:12 AM
Victoria, B.C. – B.C. is committing $2 million in one-time funding to the Michael Cuccione Foundation to support childhood cancer research and treatment.
Health Minister Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid says the foundation will direct the money to the Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children’s Hospital. The research program focuses on better understanding childhood cancers and seeking new therapies with lower side-effects for young patients.
Founded in 1997, the Michael Cuccione Foundation raises funds for childhood cancer research. The foundation also offers emotional support to cancer patients and their families and conducts motivational speaking engagements throughout Canada and around the world. Michael was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of nine. A singer, songwriter, dancer, actor and motivational speaker, Michael used his own experiences with cancer to challenge and inspire others to make a difference. Michael overcame cancer, but died in 2001 at age 16 from respiratory failure related to his cancer treatments.
Every year in B.C., one child in 8,000 will develop cancer and there are about 130 new cases diagnosed in children under age 17. Fortunately, children with cancer have a better chance of living a longer life than ever before, and there has been a steady decline in the mortality rate for childhood cancer over the last 20 years.
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