WASHINGTON, DC - After years of hard work to increase funding for pediatric cancer research, Vince, Nancy, and Nick Haight of Warwick, Rhode Island, today joined U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) at a bill signing ceremony in the Oval Office as President George W. Bush signed the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act into law. This bipartisan legislation, authored by Senator Reed in the Senate and Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) in the U.S. House of Representatives, calls for $150 million over five years to expand childhood cancer research and increase services to patients and families affected by the disease. The new law also creates a national childhood cancer registry to track pediatric cancer. Researchers will be able to contact patients within weeks, enroll them in research studies, and follow up with them over time.

One of the inspirations for the law was Ben Haight, the young son of Nancy and Vince Haight, and brother of Nick, who sadly passed away from an aggressive form of childhood cancer in 2003. Several years ago, the Haights met with Senator Reed to discuss the need for more funding for pediatric cancer research and their efforts helped Senator Reed shape the legislation.

"Nancy, Vince, and Nick deserve a lot of credit because their dedication and determination to raise awareness of pediatric cancer helped make this day possible. They have been through so much. Thanks to their efforts we hope that one day Ben's story, and thousands of other children like him, will be one of survival," said Reed, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "Too many young people's lives have been cut short by cancer. The kids and their families who battle this disease have inspired us to turn tragedy into hope and this law will go a long way toward helping researchers find a cure."

Each year, over 12,000 American children are diagnosed with cancer and more than 2,000 end up succumbing to this devastating disease.

Reed's legislation will encourage and expand support for pediatric cancer research by authorizing $30 million annually for the next five years for biomedical research programs at the National Cancer Institute. It will also establish a national, population-based childhood cancer registry to evaluate the incidence trends of childhood cancers and conduct research into genetic and environmental causes of the disease.

In addition to providing support for childhood cancer research, Reed's bill authorizes grants to expand informational programs to ensure early access to the best available therapies and clinical trials and necessary long-term medical and psychological care, and provide services such as support networks, educational teleconferences, and referrals for financial assistance and psychological counseling.

"When a child is diagnosed with cancer, suddenly the whole family's life changes overnight. Often times, parents will have to quit their job to stay home and care for their child. This bill will help more families find the best care possible and at the same time provide some comfort and needed research," concluded Reed.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill unanimously on July 16, 2008 and the U.S. House of Representatives passed it unanimously on June 12, 2008.