GAHANNA, Ohio — Mayor Jagwin and Gahanna City Council on Sept. 15 proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and recognized a local family whose daughter is recovering from cancer.

The proclamation singled out Hannah Daubenmire, a fifth-grader at High Point Elementary, who was diagnosed last year with osteosarcoma and has undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Mayor Jagwin said the city honors “the courage of children and families impacted by pediatric cancer” and noted national statistics showing the relative lack of new childhood-cancer drugs approved in recent decades.

The nut graf: The proclamation framed local recognition within a national context: council and the mayor said childhood cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death among children and that research and funding lag behind adult oncology. The Daubenmire family attended the ceremony and joined city leaders for a photo.

Details: At the lectern, the mayor said, “It is a time to honor the courage of children and families impacted by pediatric cancer and to raise awareness of the urgent need for better treatments and increased research funding.” He noted that “each year, over 17,000 children are diagnosed with cancer” and that “over the last 20 years, only 6 drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat childhood cancers.”

A member of the Daubenmire family, who addressed council after the proclamation, described Hannah’s diagnosis and treatment. The family representative said Hannah underwent nine months of chemotherapy, had limb-reconstruction surgery including a knee-and-tibia implant, and “rang the bell to finish treatment in April.” The family member added that Hannah had returned to school this fall.

Why it matters: City officials said local recognition helps raise awareness and supports families who advocate for better pediatric cancer care and research funding. The mayor and council encouraged residents to support affected families and local awareness efforts.

What’s next: The proclamation is symbolic and does not create a new city program or funding. Those seeking resources or information were directed to cancer advocacy organizations and to the Daubenmire family’s public outreach efforts.