Mr. Speaker, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time for us to recognize and support the importance of childhood cancer research while remembering those young lives that have been taken away from us far too soon. One of these new angels was Jordy Pepperall, a beautiful six-year-old little girl who recently passed, leaving behind her older brother Jack and loving parents Lindsay and Colin.
According to Childhood Cancer Canada, over 80% of children with cancer will now have a cure. However, many will continue to experience serious health issues later in life. Research on the development of future treatments is critically important, as is the need for funds to assist this essential work.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in the recent Terry Fox runs in both Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. I also want to recognize Niagara Falls councillors Mike Strange and Victor Pietrangelo for raising over $60,000 for childhood cancer research and in support of the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton.
No child should have to endure cancer, and families should not have to go through this alone. I thank the residents of Niagara for coming together to show that we are all in this battle together.