Demand for 40% of "The Cancer Moonshot 2020" $$ for Kids Cancer #40NOT4

Dear Parents of Kids with Cancer, Warriors, Survivors, Cancer Awareness Soldiers, Research Advocates, Fundraisers, Parents of Angels, Doctors, Nurses, Scientists, Pediatric Oncologists, and ANYONE WHO WANTS A CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER!

We need to DEMAND for our Federal Government to INCREASE the portion of the Cancer Budget allotted for Pediatric Cancers from 4% to 40%. #40NOT4
The 'White House' requires a petition with 100,000 signatures...just to be considered.

We are DEMANDING drastic, immediate action for two reasons.

First, OUR KIDS CAN'T DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT! We have patiently waited for an increase from the UNACCEPTABLE 4% long enough.
Knowing the FACTS about Childhood Cancers, and allocating ONLY 4% for Children is INSULTING...UNFAIR...and borderline criminal!

Secondly, there is some REAL MONEY available now with the formation of "The Cancer Moonshot 2020 initiative".

In one of the most poignant moments from President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address on February 9th, he launched a new national effort called "The Cancer Moonshot 2020 initiative", aimed at curing cancer “once and for all,” and turned to Vice President Joe Biden, who lost his 46-year-old son Beau to the disease in May of 2015, and said, “I’m putting Joe in charge of Mission Control.”

Following the speech, Biden said “this is personal for me,” adding that “the goal of this initiative is simple — to double the rate of progress. To make a decade worth of advances in five years.” Biden remarked about adopting the cause of curing the disease as his "personal mission". Biden knows that defeating cancer is a long-term undertaking, stating, "My commitment is not for the next 12 months, I’ve been stunned by response worldwide …I plan on doing this the rest of my life." Over the next year, Biden will convene meetings of researchers, doctors, patients, and philanthropists to figure out the best way to effectively boost cancer research funding and treatment, to increase collaboration between experts fighting the disease and to do a better job of compiling information that could lead to a cure to the world’s most deadly disease.

Biden has already had some measure of success in this arena, helping the Obama administration negotiate a $2 billion increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health from Congress, being the largest contribution in over a decade, and including an additional $264 million earmarked for the National Cancer Institute.

It is horrible that VP Joe Biden lost his Son, Beau, to this despicable disease, but, it for this reason, I believe, VP Joe Biden WILL come through for us...for he IS one of us...he understands...and Beau's passing will not be in vain...for it is what thrust Joe Biden into this mission, and for that, we will be forever in Beau's gratitude.

Here's the petition letter to VP Joe Biden:

Dear Vice President Biden,

First, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment as head of 'mission control' for "The Cancer Moonshot 2020 initiative".  We can't tell you how excited and thankful we are for you heading up this cause.

I would also like to extend my deepest condolences for the loss of your Son, Beau to Cancer, and it is for this reason, we know you really understand our plight.  Your Son did not die in vain for he is the reason you thrust yourself into this mission, and for that, we will be forever grateful.

If you really know the facts about Childhood Cancer, you'll have to agree that the appropriation of funding from the Federal Government at just below 4%, has been far too low...for far too long.

So, this is our request, Mr. Biden. or perhaps I should say it like it is...this is our DEMAND...we want 40% of the budget for Kids!  We have 'requested' more than 4% for a long time...and it's fallen on deaf ears.  Now, we're fed up...we're fed up with shaving our heads, running maratahons, and hundreds of other fundraising activities...yes, we're fed up because we just want to be home loving our Kids, watching them grow.  We think a 60/40 is more than fair.  Please, Mr. Biden...any less would be an insult.  I'm sure you'll agree.

You can make a big differnece Mr. Biden.

We're counting on you.

Thanking you in advance for your consideration of this matter.

___________________________ 

Once you know the facts...you'll understand why the Kids need our help...and why you need to support this cause by signing our petition.

Not only is childhood cancer the number one killer disease in children but it is estimated that approximately 1 in 333 young people will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. These alarming statistics, and those outlined below speak to the very reasons why Kids with Cancer Society need more than 4% of the National Cancer budget.
Today, despite progress in research, childhood cancer kills more children than all other diseases combined.
The cause of most childhood cancers is unknown, and at present childhood cancer cannot be prevented.
The majority of children with cancer require rounds of chemotherapy to treat their disease.
Many require surgery and/or radiation to remove the tumour. For some, a bone marrow transplant is their only hope of survival.
The length of treatment for childhood cancer ranges from 3 months to 2 1/2 years. In general, treatment for adult cancers is considerably shorter.
Three in 10 children will lose their battle with the disease.
Significant advances in cancer therapy, the result of scientific and clinical research, mean that approximately more than 70% of children diagnosed with cancer are expected to become long-term survivors.
The improved prognosis for childhood cancer has not been realized without a cost. The intense and extensive medical treatment necessary to achieve a cure often creates additional life threatening, and life altering challenges for the child as they endure treatment during a period when they are developing emotionally, physically and intellectually. The reality is that now, as more and more children are surviving cancer, it is increasingly important to address ongoing and emerging needs of the child and their family in order to achieve complete and long-term healing.
Many advances in adult cancer treatments are due to breakthroughs in childhood cancer research.
Cancer begins with the transformation of a single cell. We have yet to understand why—if only we knew!