Every year on May 17th, the world comes together to observe DIPG Awareness Day, a day dedicated to shedding light on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive form of childhood brain cancer. For families affected by this devastating disease, DIPG Awareness Day highlights the need for increased research funding and improved treatment options for the most lethal form of childhood cancer.
The advocacy effort to recognize DIPG Awareness Day was spearheaded by the Mosier family, co-founders of the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. Their journey began with a heartfelt mission to honor the memory of their son, Michael Mosier, who bravely battled DIPG before passing away at the age of six.
In 2016, the Mosiers worked with then-Governor Larry Hogan to establish Maryland’s first DIPG Awareness Day on May 17, marking the anniversary of Michael’s passing. In the years that followed, the Mosiers continued their endeavor on a state level, with other advocates working in parallel on a federal level, to establish DIPG Awareness Day universally. As a result of the combined efforts of many families who championed adoption in their own states, more than 30 states and the U.S. Senate have recognized May 17 as DIPG Awareness Day.
These collective actions continue to elevate the conversation surrounding childhood brain cancer. DIPG Awareness Day brings families and communities together, fostering a collective space to share stories and honor the memories of those lost to DIPG. May 17 serves as a poignant reminder that together, we can drive progress toward improved treatments and ultimately, a cure for the leading cancer killer in children.
