[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1287-E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: HONORING 
                         HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE KELLY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2015

  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to observe 
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and in doing so I wish to 
recognize Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a leading contributor to pediatric 
cancer research and the fight to permanently end childhood cancer.
   Hope on Wheels has one wish--and it is one that I share as both a 
father and a grandfather: to help kids fight and beat cancer so that 
each and every child can live a long, healthy, and joyous life.
   Each year, approximately 15,780 children and adolescents are 
diagnosed with cancer.

[[Page E1288]]

Even with all of the advances in modern medicine, cancer is still the 
leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. 
It does not discriminate among its victims; any child can become 
afflicted no matter how young or how small. It affects children from 
each gender and all nationalities, religions, and socio-economic 
backgrounds. In most tragic fact, a child is diagnosed with cancer 
every 36 minutes. No one and no family is immune from this devastating 
disease. But there is hope.
   Blessedly, modern medical research and treatments have greatly 
improved the survival rate for children with cancer. As of 2010, there 
were approximately 380,000 childhood cancer survivors living across our 
country. This dramatic improvement is a result of an increased quality 
of care, early detection, and advances in innovative research--along 
with a growing wellspring of financial support beneath it all.
   Hyundai Hope on Wheels is leading the way with its commitment to 
cancer research. In its 17th year of battling childhood cancer, Hope on 
Wheels will award $10.5 million in research grants to hospitals across 
the United States during this September, National Childhood Cancer 
Awareness Month. Hope on Wheels has been investing in pediatric cancer 
research since 1998, and this month they will surpass $100 million in 
lifetime funding to this critical cause.
   I express my most heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to 
everyone at Hyundai who has made this wonderful investment in our 
children a powerful reality.
   This year, one of Hyundai Hope on Wheels' grants will be awarded to 
Pennsylvania's own Dr. James Anthony Graves at the Children's Hospital 
of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where he is researching neuroblastoma, the most 
common extracranial pediatric tumor. This award and others will allow 
doctors like Dr. Graves to continue to work on life-saving cancer 
therapies and new treatments for children in Pennsylvania and across 
our country.
   Mr. Speaker, for working to improve the survival rate of our 
nation's children tragically diagnosed with cancer, I ask that my 
colleagues join with me today in recognizing the heroic work of Hyundai 
Hope on Wheels. Committed to winning the fight against pediatric 
cancer, this extraordinary organization is providing generations of 
American children with the hope of a healthy future.

                          ____________________