The Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation in Memory of Jonny Wade will host a Biden Cancer Community Summit focused on cancer research on September 21 in Springfield, Illinois from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the 2E Schnirring Board Room in the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation on 228 W. Miller St. This Community Summit is a response to Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s call to action to double the rate of progress against cancer.

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis will be attending the Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation Summit event that joins 300 other Summits throughout the country designed to draw in and learn from the perspectives of the cancer patient’s journey through the twists and turns from prevention through a cancer diagnosis,treatment, and survivorship. Cancer research, treatment, and advocacy stakeholders from across St. Louis and central Illinois will be invited to join in a discussion on securing a future free of cancer. 

“The quest to find a cure for cancer is personal for my family. In 2014, my 7-year-old son Jonny was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and passed away less than a year later on Christmas Eve 2015. While Jonny is no longer with us, we created the Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation to carry on his dying wish: secure a future without cancer,” said Jon Wade, Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer board member. “We are honored to be working with the Biden Cancer Initiative to host this summit and hope that this generates new commitments to eradicate cancer.” 

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death for kids under 15 in the U.S., but only a small percentage of National Cancer Institute funding is dedicated to pediatric cancer research. The Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation is demanding action and effecting change for the thousands of children that are diagnosed with cancer each year. Since its inception in 2016, the foundation has raised over $520,000 for pediatric cancer research. 

About Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation in Memory of Jonny Wade
The Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation was founded in memory of 8-year-old Jonny Wade shortly after his passing. Despite the circumstances, Jonny believed he could make a difference for other children affected by cancer and made a selfless wish to his parents: “I don’t want any other kid to have cancer.” Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death for children under the age of 15 in the United States. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit’s mission is to conquer pediatric cancer through research and political action, with an emphasis on responsible spending. Visit kidsshouldnthavecancer.org for more information about the foundation and for photos
of the family and events.