First
Lady Dianne Bentley announced Thursday that gold ribbons are on display
on the Governor's Mansion doors through the month of September in honor
of
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
"These
ribbons serve as a visual reminder of those who are currently fighting
cancer," Mrs. Bentley said. "They also serve to celebrate those who have
conquered cancer,
and to prayerfully remember those who have lost the battle. Cancer is a harsh reality for anyone to face, especially a child. Together, we must continue the fight to defeat it."
According
to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancer is the second leading
cause of death for children under 15 years old and the most frequent
cause of childhood
death by disease. The most common forms of childhood cancer are
leukemia, brain cancer, and cancer of the central nervous system. Cancer
is expected to take the lives of 1,340 American children in 2012.
"Every
person, if you take a moment, can think of someone who has been
affected by cancer," Mrs. Bentley said. "It may be a family member, a
friend, or even a personal
experience, but it has touched all of us."