In The News
SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!
September Declared Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Under Measure
September Declared Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Under Measure
Introduced by Senator Jerry Hill
Legislation Inspired by the Memory of South San Francisco Toddler’s Fight Against Neuroblastoma
Release courtesy of Office of Senator Jerry Hill
For the second year in a row, The California Legislature declared September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month under a Senate Concurrent Resolution introduced by Senator Jerry Hill and unanimously approved SCR-133 by the state’s upper house on August 11th, 2014 and again this year with SCR-81 approved unanimously on August 17th, 2015
From left, Teresa Truttmann, Jesus Peña, Senator Jerry Hill, Patricia Watson, John Truttmann in Senator Hill’s Office at the State Capitol on August 11, 2014.
State Senator Darrell Steinberg and Assemblymember Kevin Mullin joined Hill as coauthors of Senate Concurrent Resolution 133.
In introducing the legislation, Hill spoke of Juliana Peña, a South San Francisco toddler who passed away two years ago of neuroblastoma. The work of Juliana’s parents, Patricia Watson and Jesus Peña, inspired the Senate Concurrent Resolution to raise awareness of all childhood cancers.
“The genesis of this SCR was the parents of Juliana Peña, a child from South San Francisco who passed away from neuroblastoma in 2012 at the age of 2½ years old,” said Hill, D-San Mateo/Santa Clara Counties in presenting the proposal on the Senate floor. “SCR 133 proclaims the month of September 2014 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and states the commitment of the Legislature to support efforts for research and to find cures for childhood cancer.”
“Cancer is by far the leading cause of death by disease among children in this country,” said Hill. “California has many of the world’s finest medical, academic, and commercial institutions, and must continue as a leader in the fight against this terrible disease. Increased public awareness of this major public health problem is a crucial step toward finding solutions.”
Juliana’s parents as well as her grandparents, Teresa and John Truttmann, were in the Capitol to observe the proceeding in the Senate. In a separate ceremony in Hill’s office, Patricia Watson and Jesus Peña received a resolution from Senator Hill commending them for their efforts to raise awareness of neuroblastoma and other pediatric cancers through Juliana’s Journey, a foundation they established in memory of their daughter.
In recognizing their efforts, the member’s resolution said the foundation is “dedicated to Juliana’s memory and to all the brave children who continue to battle against neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers…”
