PROCLAMATION from Fred Camillo, First Selectman
WHEREAS, Nearly 13 percent, or one in every eight of all cancers diagnosed in adults are rare, and every child diagnosed with cancer is rare; and
WHEREAS, About 208,000 rare cancers will be diagnosed in adults each year; and all pediatric cancers are rare with cancer being the leading cause of death by disease in children; and
WHEREAS, Greenwich foundations such as The Golden Lights Foundation, The Hopper-Belmont Foundation and the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation have taken leadership roles in funding critical research and raising awareness of rare cancers particularly for pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancers - hoping to increase the chance for survival and finding cures; and
WHEREAS, The Connecticut-based National Organization of Rare Disorders’ Rare Cancer Coalition, led by Greenwich residents created Rare Cancer Day in 2018 to annually raise awareness and attract more funding and research for these important cancers; and
WHEREAS, Greenwich cancer patient advocates led the U.S. Congress’ bi-partisan Cancer Coalition to introduce, for the first time, a resolution declaring September 30 to be Rare Cancer Day nationally; and, with support from local foundations and charities, Greenwich recognizes it locally.
NOW, THEREFORE, l, Fred Camillo, FIRST SELECTMAN OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH, do
hereby proclaim September 30, 2023 as
Rare Cancer Awareness Day
in the Town of Greenwich to help raise awareness of rare cancers and encourage our residents to recognize the impact of rare cancers on families within our community and honor those whose lives are currently impacted and whose lives have been shortened by rare cancers.