093_HR0348 LRB093 12011 HSS 16613 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Blood-related cancers currently afflict more 3 than 700,000 Americans; and 4 WHEREAS, 110,000 new cases of leukemia, lymphoma, 5 myeloma, and other blood-related cancers are diagnosed each 6 year; more than 4,000 in Illinois alone; and 7 WHEREAS, Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will kill an 8 estimated 60,500 people in the United States this year; more 9 than 2,000 Illinoisans; and 10 WHEREAS, Leukemia is the leading cause of 11 disease-related death among children younger than 15 years; 12 and 13 WHEREAS, Blood-related cancers account for over ten 14 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States; and 15 WHEREAS, Survival rates for blood-related cancers have 16 significantly improved over the past forty years as a direct 17 result of research outcomes, as well as services to assist 18 patients and their families; and 19 WHEREAS, During the month of September The Leukemia & 20 Lymphoma Society will hold a series of "Light the Night 21 Walks" throughout the State of Illinois to increase awareness 22 and raise funds to support blood-related cancer research and 23 services for people touched by blood-related cancers; and 24 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is similarly committed to 25 the eradication of these diseases and supports the treatment 26 of its citizens that suffer from them; and 27 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois encourages efforts to 28 enhance research funding and educational programs that 29 address these diseases; therefore, be it -2- LRB093 12011 HSS 16613 r 1 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 3 September be designated as Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness 4 Month to enhance the understanding of blood-related cancers 5 and to encourage participation in voluntary activities to 6 support education programs and the funding of research 7 programs to find a cure for them.