Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear are recognizing the Commonwealth’s leading role in the fight against childhood cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for American children, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September.
During Beshear’s administration, the state has invested $45.5 million in research projects from Kentucky scientists, as well as financial and psychosocial support for families with children in treatment.
“Every kid deserves the chance to grow up. And no parent should ever have to choose between buying the food their child needs to eat or the medicine they need to survive,” Gov. Beshear said. “While the federal government has cut funding for medical research and healthcare coverage, Team Kentucky has stepped up, providing more than $45 million in state funding during my administration for pediatric cancer research and support for families going through this.”
Since its founding in 2015, the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund (KPCRTF) has sponsored 62 childhood cancer research projects, led by investigators at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. Scientists supported by the KPCRTF are looking for new ways to use a child’s own immune system to fight childhood brain tumors like Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and medulloblastoma, exploring inherited genes that increase the risk of childhood cancer, developing a central database to study pediatric cancer, recruiting talented new researchers to Kentucky and more.
In addition to funding research, the Commonwealth is addressing barriers to treatment and reducing medical debt, the leading cause of bankruptcy for American families.
“Families affected by childhood cancer deserve enhanced treatment and answers that research can provide, as well as quality healthcare coverage and financial and personal support to help navigate the unimaginable,” said First Lady Britainy Beshear. “Andy and I are committed to being there for these brave children and their families and to do that, it’s important we work to understand their unique needs and deliver resources that help. This is about showing love and being there for our neighbors.”
On Sept. 1, the Governor and First Lady lit the Governor’s Mansion gold in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Governor’s Office