Judge Gabbard Recognizes September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

This is the time of year we honor some of our youngest and bravest souls. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and we are recognizing it in Jackson County. You will notice a banner hanging on the front of the Courthouse in recognition of the proclamation that we are supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness. The facts and statistics are mentioned in the following proclamation.
Have a blessed week

PROCLAMATION
CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH SEPTEMBER 2025

WHEREAS; Childhood Cancer is the #1 disease related killer of kids and teenagers in the U.S. One in five children diagnosed with cancer will die within five
years of diagnosis. In addition, 1 in 285 American children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. Cancer alone represents nearly half of the top seven causes of death by disease in children aged 0-19 yrs. The average age of death for a child with cancer is 8, causing a child to lose 70 years of expected life.
WHEREAS; Childhood cancer is on the rise, with an estimated 17,293 children diagnosed every year (47 per day) in the United States alone. Childhood cancers and adult cancers are different, yet we continue to use the downsized adult cancer protocols on kids with many times devastating effects. The lack of childhood cancer research has tremendous impact
on kids and significant costs to society.
WHEREAS, Children who survive the five years after cancer diagnosis experience a 15-fold increased risk of developing Congestive Heart Failure and 7-fold
higher risk of premature death due to cardiac causes. Survivors are also at increased risk for reoccurrence of the original cancer or of a secondary cancer. More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health related issue by the time they are 45 years of age; these health-related issues are side-effects of either the cancer or more commonly, the result of its treatment. 1/3 will suffer severe and chronic side effects; 1/3 will suffer moderate to severe health problems; and 1/3 will suffer slight to moderate side effects.
Now therefore, I, Shane Gabbard Jackson County Judge Executive,
do hereby proclaim September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Jackson County KY. I encourage our community including all citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness of what Americans can do to support the fight against childhood cancer.