WHEREAS, Neurofibromatosis (NF) causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body, bone and skin tumors, bone deformities such as spinal scoliosis, leg bowing or twisting, café au lait spots on the skin, deafness, blindness, learning disabilities, debilitating pain, heart defects, and even death; and
WHEREAS, NF is more prevalent than Cystic Fibrosis, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Tay Sachs, and Huntington's Disease combined; and
WHEREAS, NF can appear in any family and is worldwide in distribution, affects both sexes equally and has no particular racial or ethnic distribution, and 85% of cases are sporadic (i.e., no previous family history) and 15% are inherited; and
WHEREAS, While over 120,000 Americans have NF and one of every 3,000 newborns will develop the disorder, it still is relatively unknown to the public and much remains to be done to raise awareness of NF's devastating effects and the need for funding for research to prevent, treat, and cure NF; and
WHEREAS, The Children's Tumor Foundation (
www.ctf.org
) leads the efforts to fund critical research aimed at finding the causes of the disorder and developing treatments and a cure, and to provide support to people and families affected by NF; and
WHEREAS, NF research benefits an additional 100 million Americans (i.e., 65 million with cancer and 35 million with learning disabilities); and
WHEREAS, The Children's Tumor Foundation is observing May as National Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month nationally to inform the public about this common genetic disorder; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Declares and recognizes May as Neuro-fibroma-tosis Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mayor William Brooks as a sincere expression of City Council's gratitude, appreciation, and commendation for raising the public's awareness regarding Neurofibromatosis.
End
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