September is the month devoted to focus attention on CURE, the statewide organization whose goal is to expand research dollars to help cure childhood cancer.

A gold ribbon wooden yard sign marks the location of those who have made donations to the organization this year.

In September 2014 The Post Searchlight ran a series of articles about CURE, featuring some of the local people who were diagnosed with cancer in their youth, and how they are alive today thanks to the advances in research, technology and treatment.

CURE, founded in 1975, had the mission of providing research on children’s cancers while providing various services to patients and their families.

The local Stone’s Store is the headquarters for CURE in Decatur County. Tee Bridges, chairman of the board and CFO of Stone’s, and his mother Laura both actively campaign on behalf of the organization that has helped so many in Southwest Georgia, including the Bridges family.

Stone’s Stores has collaborated with Thomas County, which has had a CURE group called Team Thomasville for a number of years.

According to figures provided by Bridges, CURE funded more than $2.5 million in pediatric cancer initiatives in fiscal year 2013-14.

While the majority of money for research in childhood cancers comes from the National Cancer Institute funded by the Federal Government, over the past years funds allocated for childhood cancer research have dropped more than 30 percent, using inflation adjusted dollars; while over the same period, investment in adult cancer research has increased.

CURE was established to try to fill in the gap.

Persons wanting to support this cause may purchase a yard sign at any Stone’s Home Center during the month of September. Donations may also be made online at www.curechildhoodcancer.org., where readers can view some of the stories of Georgia kids who have grown up with cancer.