City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority
May 20, 2024

Proclamation
WHEREAS, The Children’s Tumor Foundation is observing May 2024 as NF Awareness Month to educate the public about this rare genetic condition; and WHEREAS, Although over 4 million people around the world are living with NF and 1 in every 2,000 births is diagnosed with NF, it is still is relatively unknown to the public; and WHEREAS, NF affects all populations equally, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender; and WHEREAS, NF causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and also can affect development of the brain, cardiovascular system, bones and skin; and WHEREAS, The disorder can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer; and WHEREAS, The Children’s Tumor Foundation leads efforts to promote and financially sponsor world-class medical research aimed at finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for NF; and WHEREAS, The Children’s Tumor Foundation is actively fostering collaborative partnerships in both science and industry to speed the drug research and development process through a number of consortia called Synodos; and WHEREAS, The Children’s Tumor Foundation works to improve access to quality patient healthcare through its national NF Clinic Network; and WHEREAS, The Children’s Tumor Foundation provides patient and family support through its information resources, youth programs, and local chapter activities; and WHEREAS, Much remains to be done in raising public awareness of NF to help promote early diagnosis, proper management and treatment, prevention of complications, and support for research; NOW, THEREFORE, I, MATTHEW SERRATTO, Mayor of the City of Merced, do hereby proclaim in recognition of this important initiative, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2024 as “NF Awareness Month.” Signed this 20th day of May, 2024.
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced