Pritzker signs bill creating pediatric cancer license plates to raise awareness, funds

 

[August 16, 2019] 

Governor JB Pritzker signed a new law today creating a new license plate to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for children. The bill was passed to honor eight-year-old Jonny Wade’s tragic fight with pediatric cancer and countless other children across the state.

“Jonny’s story is all too familiar for Illinois families, and I hope this law passed in his honor will help fight pediatric cancer and save lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “There’s no more worthy cause than ensuring our children can live healthy lives.”

License plate sales will fund pediatric cancer treatment and research at the Cancer Center at Illinois – a University of Illinois-run center that unites world-class faculty who uncover fundamental knowledge, innovate new technologies and enable cancer-free lives. The Cancer Center will receive grants from the new Pediatric Cancer Awareness Fund in the state treasury. Senate Bill 946 takes effect January 1, 2020.

“When I learned about Jonny Wade and his family, I wanted to introduce legislation to help fight pediatric cancer,” said Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield). “His story and the wisdom that he showed during his courageous fight is inspirational, as is his continued fight against cancer through the work of his family. I’m proud that this legislation was my first bill to pass out of the Illinois Senate. It is in honor of Jonny and all the kids in our state who have fought and are fighting cancer.”

“The Kids Shouldn’t Have Cancer Foundation was founded in memory of Jonny Wade to make sure other kids don’t go through the pain of pediatric cancer,” said Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville). “This license plate will allow people to voluntarily give towards this cause and provide much-needed research to hopefully eradicate pediatric cancer.”

[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker]