The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Takes Leadership Position on the Alliance for Childhood Cancer

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has taken another step forward in its leadership in the fight against pediatric cancer with the unanimous election of LLS Senior Vice President of Public Policy George Dahlman as the new co-chair of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer.

The Alliance for Childhood Cancer represents more than twenty national patient advocacy groups and professional medical and scientific organizations. Patient advocates, many of whom are either cancer survivors themselves or are parents of children with cancer, are joined by oncology professionals and others representing the multidisciplinary spectrum of cancer care in a unique alliance that brings concerned parties together to advance the interests of children with cancer.

LLS policy goals mirror much of the Alliance agenda and its leadership will help focus collective attention on key priorities for the pediatric cancer community. Among them are:

• Pediatric Cancer Research Funding: Last year the Congress passed and the President signed into law the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, providing for enhanced research, public education and a pediatric cancer registry. Funding for the program is now primary goal for the pediatric cancer community.
  

• The Childhood Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act (H.R.2109) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Jackie Speier (CA) Mary Bono Mack in April 2009. This legislation would improve and enhance cancer survivorship research and programs.
  

“This election is a great honor by colleagues in the children’s cancer family,” said Dahlman, “It is my hope to fulfill their confidence by bringing our collective weight to bear in helping address the problems of children with cancer and their families.”

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

    Contact: Andrea Greif
             914.821-8958
             andrea.greif@lls.org

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society