Childhood and Youth Cancer Awareness month was recognized at the Saskatchewan Legislature Thursday with a flag-raising ceremony.
Some provincial dignitaries were able to join in the ceremony, including highways minister and former minister of rural and remote health Greg Ottenbreit.
He said it’s important to recognize the battle these families go through.
“Three years ago, we were able to proclaim that every year, September would be Childhood Cancer Awareness month in the province, and we’re just celebrating that here again (Thursday) to recognize the hard work of course of all of those parents and advocacy groups” Ottenbreit said. “But mostly, kind of recognize and support these young people that are going through this terrible disease.”
Ottenbreit lost his son back in 2000 to cancer, something he says has drawn him to this cause and continued to promote cancer research initiatives across the province.
The childhood and youth cancer awareness flag has been raised at the legislature #yqr #sask #skpoli pic.twitter.com/r6ZPtBjoLR
— Ryan McNally (@RyanE_McNally) September 19, 2019
He said the future is bright for cancer research.
“If we can get to a point even of making cancer a livable, chronic illness, which so many have become that used to be life-threatening, that’s a good step,” Ottenbreit said. “Ultimately to find a cure and more-over to prevent a lot of these cancers I think would be the goal.”
Canadian children diagnosed with cancer have an 83% survival rate according to the provincial government.
