THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY QUINN, PAYNE, CLYMER, DiGIROLAMO, O'NEILL, BAKER, BEAR, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, D. COSTA, DALEY, DENLINGER, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GEORGE, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, GROVE, HARHART, HARPER, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MUSTIO, PARKER, PICKETT, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHMOTZER, SONNEY, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VEREB, GOODMAN AND BENNINGHOFF, AUGUST 20, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 20, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating September 11, 2012, as "Four Diamonds Fund Day" in

Pennsylvania and encouraging all citizens to contribute to

the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's

Hospital and other pediatric cancer research programs.

WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health identifies cancer

as the leading cause of death by disease among children in the

United States between infancy and 15 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 11,500 children are diagnosed with

cancer in the United States each year; and

WHEREAS, Due to improvements in treatment and advancements in

research, the combined five-year survival rate for all childhood

cancers has improved from less than 50% before the 1970s to 80%

today; and

WHEREAS, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital has a unique

program that directly supports children and families facing a

pediatric cancer diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Four Diamonds Fund is to conquer

childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State

Hershey Children's Hospital and their families through superior

care, comprehensive support and innovative research; and

WHEREAS, Just hours after their 14-year-old son Christopher

lost his three-year battle with cancer, Charles and Irma Millard

founded the Four Diamonds Fund on December 21, 1972; and

WHEREAS, The name of the Four Diamonds Fund was taken from an

essay that Christopher wrote shortly before his death, telling

of a knight's quest for the four diamonds of wisdom, courage,

honesty and strength, symbolizing the characteristics

Christopher believed were necessary in his cancer battle; and

WHEREAS, Over the last 40 years, the Four Diamonds Fund has

raised more than $100 million to help thousands of children

battling cancer at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and

search for improved treatments and cures to benefit all children

across the globe; and

WHEREAS, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital has been

recognized as one of the best hospitals in the country for

pediatric cancer care by U.S. News and World Report; and

WHEREAS, With the generous support of donors to the Four

Diamonds Fund, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital is able to

provide superior care and comprehensive support each year for an

average of 600 patients and their families who are starting or

continuing their cancer fight; and

WHEREAS, Through the four diamonds of courage, wisdom,

honesty and strength, each of us can share in helping children

and their families in their battle against pediatric cancer; and

WHEREAS, The year 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Four

Diamonds Fund; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate

September 11, 2012, as "Four Diamonds Fund Day" in Pennsylvania

and encourage all citizens to contribute to the Four Diamonds

Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and other

pediatric cancer research programs.