Friday, May 17 is DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day; Leading Cause of Cancer-Related Death Among Children

Brevard's Viv Sleeth has been courageously battling DIPG for 23 months

Viv Sleeth, left, and her mom, Brittany Sleeth at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. Viv has been courageously battling DIPG for 23 months. Friday, May 17 is DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Friday, May 17 is DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day and brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death among children in our nation.

Unfortunately, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the leading form of pediatric brain cancer deaths. Far too many young people have succumbed to this terrible disease that currently has no cure and we need to put an end to DIPG.

We have our very own local warrior, Viv Sleeth, that has been courageously battling DIPG for 23 months.

She is a fighter and will not give up, but she needs our help. She needs the help of elected officials that control the “purse strings.”

She needs the help of the medical profession. She needs the help of the pharmaceutical industry. She needs help from all of us. Not only does Viv need our help, but all of those that are battling DIPG need help.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) led a bipartisan resolution designating May 17, 2024, as DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day.

From the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL):

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death among children in our nation. Unfortunately, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the leading form of pediatric brain cancer deaths.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) led a bipartisan resolution designating May 17, 2024 as “DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day” to raise awareness of, and encourage further research on DIPG tumors and pediatric cancer.

• “The Senate encourages all individuals in the United States to become more informed about diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors, pediatric brain cancer in general, and challenges related to research on pediatric cancer and ways to advance that research.”

Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) are cosponsors of the resolution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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