A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO DECLARE MAY 2023 AS "NF AWARENESS MONTH" AND FURTHER TO DECLARE MAY 17, 2023, AS "NF AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, during the month of May 2023, and most particularly on May 17, 2023, a nationwide call to action will be sounded to bring attention to neurofibromatosis (NF), a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. This disorder affects more than 125,000 people living in the United States and more than two million people worldwide; and

Whereas, this call to action extends across the country, both online and offline, and includes, among other efforts, the "Shine a Light on NF" campaign, a grassroots initiative bringing awareness into the community by lighting up buildings, bridges, and monuments in blue and green; and

Whereas, NF affects one in every three thousand births. Anyone can be born with it, and it affects everyone differently. NF can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning challenges, disabling pain, or cancer. There is no cure yet; and

Whereas, the Children's Tumor Foundation stands as the world's leading organization dedicated to NF research; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly encourages all citizens of this great State to learn more about NF and the efforts being made to combat it. The members also encourage the people of our State to visit www.ctf.org for further information. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, declare May 2023 as "NF Awareness Month" and further declare May 17, 2023, as "NF Awareness Day" in the State of South Carolina.

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