Ryan Shuman was a senior athlete from Eden Prairie who lost
his battle on December 1, 2006 (just 11 days shy of his 18th birthday) after a 29 month fight against a rare childhood
cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma.
During Ryan's 29 month fight, he became a strong advocate for the fight against
childhood cancer and it was his goal to help raise awareness, improve the quality of life for children with cancer, and most
important, find a cure!
Childhood Cancer Statistics:
Nearly 30% of U.S. population is under the age of
20. In this age group: - Approximately 12,400 are
diagnosed with cancer each year.
- In 1998, about
2500 died of cancer.
About one in 300 boys
and one in 333 girls will develop cancer before the age of 20. (The distribution of boys and girls diagnosed varies by type
of childhood cancer.)
The incidence, or frequency
that cancer is diagnosed, has risen since the 1970s for some types of childhood cancer, but rates have been fairly stable
in more recent years
We need to find a cure
NOW before another parent has to hear the words "your child has cancer"!
This foundations goal is simple
- Continue what Ryan started!
High School hockey coaches - it is time to start thinking about your senior player that you want to nominate for the Ryan
Shuman Strength, Courage, and Determination Award and Scholarship Award.
