Gabriella Miller was a 10 year old from Virginia who lost her battle with cancer. While fighting the disease she wrote a book and received an honorary college degree. President Obama just signed a new law named after Gabriella that will benefit cancer research. News 4s Derrick Ward caught up with her family at their annual fundraiser.
A little 10-year-old girl from Leesburg, Va., who died from brain cancer, became a driving force in the efforts to raise awareness for pediatric cancer before her short life ended.
Gabriella Miller and her family started an annual walkathon to raise money for research specifically for pediatric brain cancer. A documentary about Gabriella was made to give kids like her a voice.
"A mom shared it with her husband who happened to work for House Majority leader Eric Cantor,” said documentarian Mike Gillette. “He saw it and said I'm going to share this with all my colleagues and were going to make some changes"
The changes led to legislation signed by the president, directing $126 million to pediatric cancer research over the next 10 years at a time when research dollars are being rolled back.
“When there’s an opportunity to see Democrats and Republicans come together to do something good, they really should be commended,” said Marc Miller, Gabriella’s father. "Honestly, it took a 10-year-old girl saying stop talking and start doing, and they did."
She's inspiring a generation to "do" as well as people from all ages came out Sunday for the walkathon.
Gabriella died last October, but after today's walkathon, somewhere, she is probably smiling.
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For more information about childhood brain cancer or how you can support research, visit Smashing Walnuts.
