[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF TEAM MATHIAS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituents, Roya 
and Chris Giordano, and Team Mathias, an extraordinary non-profit 
organization located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for their work to 
increase awareness about pediatric cancer and also to support families 
whose loved ones are struggling with the disease. Team Mathias is named 
after Mathias Giordano, whose determination to make a difference in the 
lives of other pediatric cancer patients resulted in the establishment 
of the organization, even as he struggled with bone cancer himself. 
Thirteen year old Mathias Giordano was a radiant light in this world 
whose optimism and valor gave assurance to young patients and their 
families that they are not alone in fighting the tragic disease of 
pediatric cancer that yearly afflicts over 10,000 children and remains 
the leading cause of death from disease among children in our nation.
  Team Mathias, led by Roya and Chris Giordano and in collaboration 
with enthusiastic and diligent volunteers, annually hosts the Team 
Mathias Golf Tournament, and the Annual Team Mathias 5k Trail and 
Family Run that is taking place this year at the Evergreen Sportsplex 
in Leesburg. The proceeds from these events are used to increase 
awareness of all childhood cancers, raise funds for research, and make 
a donation to Special Love, a local non-profit that provides cancer 
families a community of support, made up of patients and families. In 
fulfillment of his own wishes, Team Mathias sends wonderful care 
packages to pediatric patients and their siblings, just as Mathias had 
specified.
  Since my time in the Virginia General Assembly, advocating for those 
with pediatric cancer and working to find cures have been priorities of 
mine, and I take great pride in the number of family and community 
based organizations in Virginia's 10th District, like Team Mathias, 
that go above and beyond to spread awareness for those suffering from 
these illnesses. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing and thanking Roya and Chris Giordano and their team of 
volunteers, for the incredibly compassionate work of supporting 
families with loved ones who are fighting pediatric cancer. I also ask 
my colleagues that we remember Mathias, who faced his battle with 
cancer with fearless courage, grace, and dignity.

                          ____________________