Sahara's Law: Politicians fight for legislation to boost cancer research

Fighting for those who can't, Sahara's Law is a piece of legislation that would attempt to boost funding for pediatric cancer research.

It is in honor of Sahara Aldridge, a 13-year-old Cape Girardeau resident who died Nov. 5, 2007, from a brainstem glioma, a malignant brain tumor with no cure.

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau. He said he first heard Sahara's story when he was still a member of the House of Representatives, after an unexpected meeting with her mother Amy Aldridge.

"It was kind of like a God thing," Wallingford said. "I'm not usually home during the middle of the week, but I happened to be home on break and had a meeting with a few doctors at Saint Francis [Medical Center]. Amy also happened to be there and came to visit me before my meeting and told me the very touching story of her daughter, Sahara."

She approached Wallingford with her idea to place a check-off box on individual and corporate income tax forms that would give Missouri taxpayers an option to donate a portion of their returns to pediatric cancer research.

"The goal of this all is to find cures," Amy Aldridge said. "And this is an easy way to raise money without spending money."

Wallingford had a bill drafted and signed by other representatives just days after returning to the capitol. After he was elected into the Senate in 2012 he had to refile the bill, but said the process went smoothly.

"Amy came and made a very touching presentation at the Senate committee meeting when the bill was presented," Wallingford said. "When you present a bill, people can testify against it, but no one testified against this bill. It passed unanimously with 34 'yeses' and zero 'nos.'"

Now that the bill has been passed in the Senate, state Rep. Kevin Engler of Farmington, Mo., will carry it on the House floor. He said he volunteered to help Wallingford pass Sahara's Law because it is time to "step up" against this issue.

"I've had several friends affected by childhood cancer," Engler said. "There's nothing more tragic than a child fighting for their life, and no parent should have to go through that."

Sahara Aldridge Died at 13 in 2007 from brain cancer

Sahara's father, Shannon Aldridge, echoed that sentiment and said the only way to make sure another child isn't affected by cancer is by supporting research efforts. The Aldridge family has participated in several cancer research fundraising events, and have hosted Hoops For Life, a 5k run/walk, since 2010 to raise money for programs that research brain cancer specifically.

"I think everyone in Cape Girardeau knows Sahara's story, but we're a small community compared to the whole state," he said. "We need everyone's help, that's what I always tell people. We need you to give what you can. Ten dollars, five or even one makes a difference."

"Differences" are something the pediatric research field doesn't see often, according to Wallingford. He said he was "shocked" to discover how little funding goes to researching cancer in children compared to adults.

"If you had asked me before all of this, I would've thought the exact opposite," Wallingford said. "It was unbelievable to find that the American Caner Society only donates one penny of every dollar raised, especially since cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in young children."

New treatments also are a rarity, he said, and children still are treated with drugs developed in the 1960s.