MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS RESOLUTIONS TO RENAME LEISURE LAKE PARK
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS RESOLUTIONS TO RENAME LEISURE LAKE PARK IN HONOR OF BELLA RODRIGUEZ-TORRES.
COMMISSION ALSO URGES CONGRESS TO PASS THE “BELLA BILL”.
Miami, FL. (Junes 18th, 2014) (Big Time Media/ Creativas)---Yesterday, June 17, 2014 at 12:00pm EST, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners passed two resolutions honoring the late Bella Rodriguez-Torres. The first resolution is to rename Leisure Lake Park in Leisure City, Florida to: Live Like Bella Park. The second, a resolution urging congress to pass the “Bella Bill” named after Bella Rodriguez-Torres.
The Bella Bill, which is in draft form currently, would address the fact that research in pediatric cancer is very limited. Despite significant improvements in adult cancer research, there has only been one drug approved specifically for pediatric cancer in the last 20 years. The bill, if made into law, would mandate that all new cancer drugs in adult cancer research be tested on the 12 major types of childhood cancer in a laboratory. If any of the new drugs where to show effectiveness against one or more childhood cancer, then a clinical trial with a small number of children would run in parallel to the adult clinical trials, however allowing for the pediatric data to be excluded from the adult data. This will help ensure that the outcomes from the children would not hinder the advancement for adult cancer research, but would accelerate [greatly] the innovation and research for childhood cancer.
Bella captured the hearts of millions and inspired the nation with her bravery and courage during her 6-year battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma – an aggressive form of childhood cancer. She passed away at the age of 10 on May 28, 2013, leaving behind a legacy, and urging people to#LiveLikeBella
In the United States, every school day 46 children are diagnosed and every day 7 children die of cancer. If the “Bella Bill” becomes law it would potentially have a very significant positive impact on countless children.
Raymond Rodriguez-Torres, Chairman for Live Like Bella™ Foundation stated: “Our family is most grateful to Vice Chairwoman Bell, Chairwoman Sosa, Co-Sponsors and Mayor Gimenez for honoring Bella with the renaming of the park and for advocating for increased childhood cancer research at a Federal level.”
"We're truly humbled by our local elected officials thoughtfulness, in honoring Bella's legacy and supporting her continuing mission to battle childhood cancer," said Luis Andre Gazitua, Esq., Government Affairs Counsel for Live Like Bella™ Foundation.
ABOUT LIVE LIKE BELLA FOUNDATION™
Live Like Bella : Live Like Bella™ was founded in June 2013 in memory of Bella, who passed away at the tender age of 10 from Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. In her six-year battle she inspired millions to #LiveLikeBella and we are dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer by funding innovative pediatric cancer research. Our foundation also provides recreational support for families with children currently in treatment and provides financial assistance for the purchase of a headstone for families who have lost a child to cancer. For more information visit www.livelikebella.org