Childhood cancer's own superhero "Rumbleman" descended upon Washington, D.C. today joining more than 250 childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families on Capitol Hill. Rumbleman and the rest of the childhood cancer fighters are on a mission to gain Congressional support for more funding for childhood cancer research.
Rumbleman was developed by Seth Wooldridge, a 10-year-old brain cancer survivor from Sinking Spring, Pa. The ACS CAN volunteer and Relay For Life participant developed his alter ego "Rumbleman from his mantra, "Let's get ready to rumble" -- the empowering words he uttered before undergoing his chemo treatments. Today, currently in remission, Seth shared his story with his lawmakers and asked for their support for funding for childhood cancer research and passage of the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Reauthorization Act so more kids like him can have a fighting chance.
Standing with Seth today, fellow ACS CAN volunteer Marilynn Klepper carried her daughter's story to the Capitol all the way from Seattle, WA. After a courageous fight, Marilynn's teenage daughter, Jeanne-Marie, died from osteosarcoma on Mother's Day in 2001. In memory of her daughter, Marilynn has become a longtime supporter of her local Relay For Life and a staunch advocate for Congress to support more research into childhood cancer treatments.
Seth and Marilynn made a huge impact and an even bigger difference today by bringing their voices and stories to Washington, D.C. The legislation they are fighting for has the power to benefit the nearly 16,000 children newly diagnosed with cancer each year and more than 379,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the U.S. Together with our partners and Congress we can #StepUp against childhood cancer!
Mariah Forster Olson, an ACS CAN Ambassador Constituent Team Lead (ACT Lead), traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to share her story as a childhood cancer survivor and to advocate on behalf of other patients and survivors during the 2019 Childhood Cancer Action Days.