“There’s no understating the pain and anguish that confronts a family when a child is diagnosed with cancer,” Governor Hochul said. “This month, we are redoubling our efforts to fight pediatric cancer and support those who are impacted by this awful disease. As we illuminate our state landmarks tonight, I urge all New Yorkers to honor those children lost to cancer each year and provide warm encouragement to the many others fighting this awful disease.”
“Coping with cancer at any age is hard, but especially when it’s a child. During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we reflect on the young lives lost to cancer, comfort those families facing this diagnosis, and honor the health care providers who fight this disease while compassionately caring for these young patients. The Department of Health is raising awareness of and support for cancer prevention policies in our local communities through the Department’s Community Cancer Prevention in Action program to help reduce the number of cancer cases, especially pediatric cancers,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett.
These 15 landmarks and bridges will be illuminated in yellow:
- Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
- Kosciuszko Bridge
- The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
- State Education Building
- Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
- Empire State Plaza
- State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
- Niagara Falls
- The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
- Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
- Albany International Airport Gateway
- The Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex
- The Lake Placid Olympic Center
- MTA Long Island Rail Road – East End Gateway at Penn Station
- Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
In the United States, about 10,470 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in this year and about 1,050 children will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. While childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades, major treatment advances have allowed about 85 percent of children with a diagnosis to survive for five years or more.
