SM 24 — CHILDREN'S CANCER FUND, IN RECOGNITION

SENATE MEMORIAL 24 54TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2020 INTRODUCED BY Antoinette Sedillo Lopez 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE VALUABLE MISSION OF THE CHILDREN'S CANCER FUND OF NEW MEXICO.

155 WHEREAS, cancer remains the second-leading cause of death among children, after accidents;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, sixty-five children were diagnosed with cancer in w l n d 18 New Mexico in 2019;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico has i a e r 20 existed for forty-eight years to help New Mexico's children and a t m m 21 their families cope with the day-to-day emotional, educational d r e 22 and financial needs of living with and fighting cancer;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico children's hospital e a n b 24 is New Mexico's premiere pediatric hematology and oncology u [ facility;

and .216776.1 WHEREAS, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico and the pediatric hematology and oncology program at the university of New Mexico children's hospital work closely together to determine and fill the needs of children and families facing pediatric cancer diagnoses and treatments;

and WHEREAS, from the time of diagnosis and throughout their cancer journey, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico supports New Mexico families by providing them with basic SM 24 Page 1 needs to ensure that children with cancer receive the best possible treatment for pediatric cancers;

and WHEREAS, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico's bravery award program provides prizes in the form of toys and e e 17 gift cards to help minimize the trauma of painful procedures e e n d 18 and treatments related to pediatric cancer;

and = = l ] 19 WHEREAS, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico awards a l r i 20 the Erin Trujeque memorial scholarship to students who have t e a t been diagnosed with and undergone treatment for childhood m m 21 e d r e 22 cancer in New Mexico and wish to continue their education c e r c 23 beyond high school, helping them to achieve their dreams;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, for the 2019-2020 academic year, the children's u [ cancer fund of New Mexico awarded scholarships to forty-three .216776.1 - 2 - students, thirty-five of whom are attending New Mexico colleges and universities;

and WHEREAS, the children's cancer fund of New Mexico provides end-of-life hospice care and funeral assistance to families in need and opened Erin's place in 2017, providing a SM 24 Page 2 home-like atmosphere for children whose homes are outside of Albuquerque and who require hospice and palliative care;

e e 17 and e e n d 18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be = = l ] 19 transmitted to the executive director of the children's cancer a l r i 20 fund of New Mexico.

tSM e24 aPage t - 3 -25 m m 21 e d r e 22 c e r c 23 e a n b 24 u [ .216776.1