Lights on the Trail bridge are twinkling like little stars this week.
The golden yellow theme signals council’s proclamation to honour September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month in the City of Trail.
Named the gold ribbon month by the Canadian Cancer Society, the public declaration and reflective bridge lighting demonstrates the city’s support for all children who are fighting cancer and those who’ve lost their battle.
“The Canadian Cancer Society supports Trail resident Lynn Gould,” wrote Annual Giving Coordinator Valerie Rossi. “An active community member who was involved with the Daffodil Dash campaign when her team, ‘Go for Gold,’ raised funds and awareness, specifically for pediatric cancer research,” she added. “Gould is a passionate citizen who has devoted her time to continuing her late granddaughter Natasha Rose Gould’s work by spreading awareness around all childhood cancers.
“Your proclamation would lend official recognition to a cause that is near and dear to many, including Gould.”
Over the last 15 years the society has invested $47 million in research to help children survive cancer - and the results show promise.
In the 1980s, the five-year survival rate for childhood cancers was 71 per cent, Rossi notes.
Earlier detection and better treatments have 83 per cent of children with cancer surviving, today.
“We’ve made great strides, but we still have more work to do,” she added.
Childhood cancer remains the number one cause of disease-related death in Canadian children past infancy, and two of every three childhood cancer survivors will suffer long-term side effects from treatment.
The golden theme will run each night on the Victoria Street Bridge until Sept. 25.