The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners has officially designated September as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” in a proclamation issued Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
- Commissioner Mel Ponder read the proclamation aloud during the board meeting. Jessie Huisken (mother of Phinley) and Haley Brown, program and Rally Kid coordinator with Rally Foundation, were present to receive the proclamation.
The proclamation highlights the importance of children’s health to the county’s economic development and overall well-being. It notes that Northwest Florida reports an average of 50 local children are newly diagnosed with cancer each year.
According to the proclamation, cancer is the leading disease killer of children in the United States. Despite this, childhood cancer research receives less than 10% of the National Institute of Health’s allocated cancer research funding.
The board emphasized the need for more research to develop better treatment options, safe quality therapies, and ultimately a cure for childhood cancer. They also recognized the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research for providing valuable resources to affected children and families.
- The proclamation encourages residents to participate in efforts throughout the year to raise awareness and funding for childhood cancer research with Rally Gulf Coast, while supporting families facing the effects and costs of the disease.
Huisken thanked the board for acknowledging Childhood Cancer and for making the proclamation. Her 4-year-old daughter Phinley passed away on October 19, 2022, after battling a rare form of leukemia.
📝 ON A PERSONAL NOTE
This proclamation holds great significance for me, as childhood cancer deeply affected my family earlier this year. My niece, Kellan Hilson, is a happy, unicorn-loving, 4-year-old who loves to dance and play with her little sister, Ila. After experiencing leg pain, she was diagnosed with Precursor B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on April 16, 2024.
- Since her diagnosis, Kellan has been making multiple trips to Pensacola each week and is currently undergoing a more intense round of chemotherapy. This will be a road to recovery for Kellan, but we have full faith that God’s got this.
The proclamation was officially passed and adopted by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners on September 3, 2024.
