September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

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MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- This year, parents of nearly 16,000 children in the U.S. will hear the words: "Your child has cancer." One in five of those children won't survive. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and as a leader in the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® will focus on raising awareness and funds for this very important issue.

Despite significant progress made by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rates from 20 to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened in 1962, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children over the age of 1. Each year about 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and 60 percent of these kids don't have access to modern treatment. For those who win their battles against childhood cancer, victory often comes at a cost as survivors face a much higher risk of experiencing unique long-term health effects later in life.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month provides St. Jude an opportunity to educate communities and supporters about what they can do to help these kids fighting for their lives. Throughout the month of September supporters can join our movement and help support the little warriors at St. Jude in their big fight against childhood cancer. Ways to participate include:

• Rally friends, family and community members and register for St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer on Sept. 19 or 26. Visit stjude.org/walkrun to find an event near you;
• Donate or learn more about the little warriors at St. Jude and their big fight against childhood cancer at stjude.org/September; and
• Join us on social media @StJude and use the Hashtag #ShowYourGold to show your support.

The generosity of individual contributors allows St. Jude doctors and scientists to embark upon ambitious, industry-leading efforts like the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center, which is the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children, and the St. Jude LIFE & After Completion of Therapy Clinic Presented by Kmart, whose mission is to help patients stay healthy as they continue their journeys as survivors after active treatment ends.

Contributions help St. Jude patients like 17-year old Adam.

Adam was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2014 and is on a two-and-a-half year chemotherapy plan that will cost an estimated $2 million for his medicine alone. Because no family receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, Adam decided to give back to the place he says is saving his life. Adam has rallied an army of friends and family members around the country to raise $100,000 this year for St. Jude. Even though he is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatments, Adam plans to participate in the inaugural St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer and is training to run the half marathon during St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in December.

"Adam is an inspiring young man, not only to other patients, but to everyone working to ensure St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continues its lifesaving work to find cures," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month we will boost our efforts to raise funds and awareness to help St. Jude defeat this awful disease affecting so many of our children. We won't stop until no child dies from cancer."

Join the fight and help give kids battling cancer a fighting chance. Visit Stjude.org/September.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

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