May 17 proclaimed as Aralyn Slack DIPG Awareness Day in Highland County

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades proclaimed May 17 as Aralyn Slack DIPG Awareness Day, in honor of a local fourth grader battling cancer.

According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (www.acco.org) and the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation (averystrongdipg.org), Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Day is observed on May 17 in several states, during Brain Cancer Awareness Month.

“Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) remains one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer, with a long-term survival rate of less than one percent,” according to www.acco.org. “An especially aggressive type of cancerous tumor, DIPG grows in an area of the brain stem known as the pons, which is responsible for many critical bodily functions like heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eyesight and balance.”

Aralyn Slack, a 10-year-old and a student at Lynchburg-Clay Elementary, was diagnosed with DIPG on March 30. She is currently undergoing radiation treatment, while she is also enrolled in a clinical trial.

To show support for Slack and her family, her loved ones have formed “Aralyn’s Alliance” to raise awareness, fundraise for the family and share updates on her cancer journey. Their motto is “Never Stop Swimming,” featuring sea turtles and the color orange — both favorites of Aralyn’s — on their designs and shirts.

Britton and Roades, as well as commission clerks Mary Remsing and Ashleigh Willey and ARPA funding coordinator Nicole Oberrecht, all donned Aralyn’s Alliance shirts for Wednesday’s meeting. (Daniels said he made a donation but asked not to receive a shirt.)

Since her diagnosis, Slack also wrote a “bucket list,” and with the help of many generous people in the community, she has already managed to enjoy several of the activities she listed, including hockey and baseball games (and throwing out the first pitch at a Cincinnati Reds game), an ultimate sleepover with friends, Monster Jam and even attending the Lynchburg-Clay High School prom with her older siblings, Aric and Aubrey. Slack also competed with her softball teammates at their first game April 10 (see photos at: https://highlandcountypress.com/node/140347.)

Although Slack was unable to attend the commissioners’ meeting due to undergoing radiation treatment at the Barrett Center this week, Britton said they wanted to “do a proclamation for her today, seeing as how this is the DIPG Awareness Day for the year.”

According to the proclamation read by Britton, “DIPG Awareness Day provides the opportunity to recognize the courage of children with DIPG and their families, remember those lost to the cancer and honor the medical professionals who dedicate themselves to researching and treating this condition.”

Britton read the proclamation to mark May 2023 as Brain Cancer Awareness Month and May 17 as Aralyn Slack DIPG Awareness Day in Highland County and to “encourage citizens to work together to raise awareness of this deadly childhood cancer and recognize the individuals and families it affects.”

Several fundraisers for Slack and her family, including a cornhole tournament, benefit dinner and silent auction, have already been held. Upcoming events include:

• A lemonade stand Saturday, May 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Lynchburg-Clay Middle School will be hosted by the Lynchburg girls softball program.

• Aralyn’s Turtley Awesome Event is set for Friday, June 2 from 6-11 p.m. at the Lake View Loft, 10215 Jones Rd., Hillsboro. The event will include a semi truck parade from Hillsboro to the Lake View Loft, with Slack arriving in Pinky 1 at 7:45 p.m See more at: https://highlandcountypress.com/social/benefit-aralyn-slack-set-june-2.

• A car, truck and bike show will be held Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lynchburg Park on the corner of Pearl and Sycamore streets.

For more information on these events and to follow updates on Slack, visit the Aralyn’s Alliance page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091608008519). Donations to the Slack family’s GoFundMe can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fighting-for-aralyn.