MOBILE, Alabama (WKRG) – This month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Several Gulf Coast cities are showing their support for the cause by signing proclamations declaring September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in their cities.

Mobile, Daphne and Spanish Fort all sign their own proclamations. The RSA tower in downtown Mobile will also be lit up in gold on Tuesday night to raise awareness.

“No child should have to go through this,” said Marie Malone.

Cancer is a diagnosis no parent wants to hear. When he was only six years old, Ryan Malone’s family overheard these words from the doctor.

“He had Burkitt’s lymphoma,” said Marie, Ryan’s mother.

They were almost immediately contacted by the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital who wanted to help them.

“When you go to St Jude you never get a bill, they pay everything, and they take that worry away from you and they give you hope that you can save your child’s life. It was important to us because we didn’t know what to expect, ”said Marie.

Ryan, now in high school, doesn’t have cancer, but it’s something they can’t forget.

“We are always worried that it will come back, even though it may represent a 10% chance of another form of cancer,” said Marie.

On Tuesday morning, they joined Joy of Life on the Gulf Coast and other organizations working to end childhood cancer at the Mobile City Council meeting as they proclaimed September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month for the city. The zest for life on the Gulf Coast is mobile and in Baldwin Counties only 501 (c) 3 organizations have been formed to raise funds for St. Jude.

According to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, more than 15,000 children and young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year, or about 43 per day. It is the number one killer of children more than any other disease.

“It takes awareness, it takes fundraising for all the different organizations, especially St. Jude, to help save another child’s life. This is our goal, ”said Marie.

This year, Ryan is the king of Joy of Life’s annual Mardi Gras Ball – a complete moment for him and his family.

“We still want to be able to hold their hand and say you can get over this. We had them there with us and we want to be there for everyone, ”said Marie.

The Joy of Life Ball, benefiting St. Jude, will take place on February 5, 2022. On October 15, the Joy of Life on the Gulf Coast is hosting its fourth annual golf tournament, also benefiting St. Jude.