LANSING — State Senator Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) and state Representative Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) introduced resolutions yesterday and today to honor the life of Chad Carr. In September 2014, Chad Carr was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a fatal form of brain cancer affecting 200-400 school-aged children in the U.S each year. Chad succumbed to his illness on Nov. 23, 2015, at the age of five. He was five years old. Chad’s parents, Tammi and Jason Carr, founded the ChadTough Foundation to spread awareness and raise money to support research into DIPG and other pediatric brain tumors.
“Our family is grateful that the state of Michigan is recognizing DIPG awareness day,” Tammi Carr said. “This is about more than just our beautiful son Chad; it is about all of the children who have fought DIPG and all of those families to come who will receive that terrible diagnosis. They deserve better, and we will work side by side to make sure that research is moved forward.”
Senate Resolution 209 and House Resolution 348 declare Sept. 26, 2016, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan, in honor of Chad Carr. Warren also offered Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 to urge the U.S. Congress and the state of Michigan to increase funding for DIPG research. Both resolutions, and the Senate Concurrent Resolution, were passed.
“I was proud to offer resolutions to honor Chad Carr, who showed remarkable courage and tenacity in his fight against DIPG, and to urge an increase in the resources dedicated to fighting this terrible disease,” Warren said. “While the past few decades have seen tremendous progress in treatments for most pediatric cancers, there are still few options for DIPG. The work that the Carr family has done through the ChadTough Foundation is supporting the kind of research that will make a difference in the pursuit of a cure, and I look forward to seeing more federal and state research dollars dedicated to the same cause.”
“We’d all like to thank the Carr family for continuing Chad’s legacy through the ChadTough Foundation and by continuing to raise awareness about DIPG and about the need to research a cure for childhood brain cancers,” Irwin said.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12) has been instrumental in urging all levels of government to devote more resources to DIPG. “Chad Carr’s strength and courage during his battle with DIPG inspired the entire nation,” Dingell said. “What is most impressive is that — in the midst of this difficult journey — the Carr family turned a tragedy into a positive with the creation of the ChadTough Foundation, which has already raised thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research. I am pleased that the resolutions passed today will support this important work and honor Chad’s life, so that one day we may find a cure for this devastating disease.”
The 14-month struggle Chad and his family endured has inspired the public to donate more than $1 million through the ChadTough Foundation.
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