[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 132 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING THE STODDARD FAMILY

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Stoddard family of Sandown, NH. In May of 2010, Cole Stoddard was 
diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer. Cole was 4 
years old at the time of his diagnosis, and he passed away nearly a 
year and a half later on January 20, 2012, at the age of 5. Since 
Cole's passing, his parents, Tony and Michelle Stoddard, and their 
children, Tara and Troy, have made it their mission to raise awareness 
about childhood cancer and encourage people throughout the country to 
learn more about the disease that annually takes the lives of nearly 
1,500 children in the United States.
  The Stoddard family has worked tirelessly over the past year in their 
efforts to designate the month of September 2013 as ``Childhood Cancer 
Awareness Month,'' and 41 States have already signed on and made this 
designation. Tony has also encouraged people to wear the color gold in 
September to further raise awareness about this devastating disease. 
Tony's advocacy has brought the Stoddard family to the famed Fenway 
Park in Boston, MA to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and 
Boston's Prudential Center was lit gold to acknowledge the cause. 
Landmarks in places as far as Australia, Ireland, and Switzerland have 
been colored gold to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
  In the United States, approximately 11,500 children under the age of 
15 will be or have been diagnosed with childhood cancer this year. It 
is the leading cause of death by disease in children in our country, 
and its causes are largely unknown. While medical research has led to 
better treatment and a significant increase in 5-year survival rates 
over the last 30 years, more needs to be done.
  I would like to thank and recognize the Stoddard family for their 
tireless work toward raising awareness about childhood cancer. Their 
noble efforts have already made a positive impact on thousands of young 
lives, and I know that I join all of New Hampshire this September in 
wishing them the best of luck as they continue their mission in Cole's 
honor and memory.

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