Buildings in Rochester will be lit blue and green to support young people with cancer

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) – Many buildings throughout Rochester will be lit with blue and green colors this week in support of young adults living with cancer.

Those buildings include the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester General Hospital, and Strong Memorial Hospital.

April is adolescent and young adult cancer awareness month, to raise awareness for the challenges that young cancer survivors face. City and county leaders, along with the nonprofit 13Thirty Cancer Connect, gathered on Monday to announce initiatives to support young people with cancer.

Attendees of the event at the Monroe County Executive Building included County Executive Adam Bello, Mayor Malik Evans, and leaders at UR Medical Center and Rochester Regional Health.

Bello spoke at the event.

" [We need] to make sure young people who are being treated with cancer and undergoing therapies and treatment know that they are not alone," Bello said. "Their community is here for them, that they are loved and we are here to support them from all aspects of our society and our community."

The company Buckingham Properties and Lights on ROC supported the lighting of the Rochester skyline for cancer awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, 16,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer at age 19 or younger. There are also annually around 80,000 Americans aged 20 to 39 diagnosed with cancer, which typically makes up 5% of all reported cases.

The 13Thirty Cancer Connect has offices in Rochester and Syracuse to hold programs for young adults with cancer and their parents. The organization was inspired by a teen named Melissa who died of cancer.

Before her passing, Melissa’s mother promised to take their experience and use it to make a difference. Her moth noticed a gap in programs offered for adolescents and young adults living with cancer. Here’s a link to more information about 13Thirty.