WESTFIELD – At the end of his briefing to the City Council on Thursday, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan read a proclamation declaring September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan
Sullivan said he was approached by At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty with the request for the proclamation, which he signed on behalf of the City Council. The Mayor asked that the councilors vote to approve the proclamation at the meeting.
He said he was wearing a yellow ribbon for pediatric cancer awareness, as he noted most of the councilors were. Sullivan also said that he would look for yellow bulbs to point at City Hall, and light it up yellow for the month.
During public participation, resident Nick Morganelli said he was wearing a gold shirt and gold tie for the cause. He cited that 16,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, the leading cause of death for those under 15 years old.
Morganelli said his own cousin’s family lost their 5-year old boy to cancer. He thanked the Mayor and Councilor Flaherty for the awareness, which he said equals funding, which equals research and a cure.
Flaherty then reread the proclamation, and encouraged residents and businesses to join the council by displaying and wearing gold ribbons this month.
