SR0233 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0233 LRB101 11630 ALS 58173 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, over 15,000 children and adolescents from birth to age 19 will be diagnosed with cancer each year; cancer remains the second leading cause of death in children and adolescents; and

WHEREAS, Although survival rates for most childhood cancers have improved in recent decades, there is still much work to be done; and

WHEREAS, Last year, at age 16, Nora Leonard was diagnosed with Hepatocellular Neoplasm, a common form of liver cancer; her parents, Kelly Leonard and Anne Libera, longtime creative executives at Second City, created the Twitter hashtag Team Nora as a way to send updates about her treatment; it quickly took off and found the support of actors, comedians, and politicians; from Tina Fey to Hillary Clinton, people across the United States and abroad sent selfies and tweets to show their support for Team Nora; and

WHEREAS, Team Nora has become not only a great way to support Nora in her fight against Hepatocellular Neoplasm but also a way to show children and teenagers across the United States that they are not alone in their fight against cancer; and

WHEREAS, Team Nora presents a newly-found awareness for childhood cancers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare July 10, 2019 Team Nora Day in the State of Illinois to raise awareness of childhood cancers and the pressing need for continued research and innovative treatment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the many patients and their caregivers, the doctors, nurses, and hospital volunteers who help these children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Nora Leonard, Kelly Leonard, and Anne Libera as an expression of our esteem and respect.