Elizabeth Meets w/the Governor

(ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER AND TEUTOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ELIZABETH WEIDNER POSE WITH THE PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER AS "CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" IN ILLINOIS)

Teutopolis High School student Elizabeth Weidner had the opportunity Monday to meet face-to-face with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner during a private gathering at Effingham City Hall.

The THS freshman, who continues in her own battle against cancer, has spent the month lobbying for more funding for and greater awareness of the fight against childhood cancer. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The meeting with the governor follows Elizabeth's trip to Washington, DC earlier this month to meet with Federal officials on the issue.

Rauner told Elizabeth, "You're an inspiration to us all." He said he has become aware that 80% of the diagnoses of childhood cancer don't come until after it has spread to other areas of the body.

Present for the gathering with Elizabeth and her family were Grace Brummer, a second grader at Dieterich Elementary School who is battling cancer, and her mom Beth, and Kinley Bridges, a fourth grader at Teutopolis Grade School who was diagnosed with cancer four years and finished her treatments two years ago, but must return for checkups every eight weeks.

Elizabeth spoke on behalf of Effingham High School student Mitchell Coffin, who is in the midst of his battle with cancer and was not well enough to attend the event. Rauner did send a video message from City Hall to Mitchell to wish him well.

(GOVERNOR RAUNER POSED WITH THE WEIDNER, BRUMMER AND BRIGGS FAMILY MEMBERS PRESENT FOR MONDAY'S EVENT AT CITY HALL)

Elizabeth also asked passersby to take notice of a display outside Dust and Son at Fayette and Banker. 46 gold ribbons have been placed there to represent the number of children diagnosed with cancer each day and six black ribbons to represent the number of kids who die from cancer each day.

The governor asked about the purple "Crowns Fight Cancer" shirts many of those gathered were wearing. Elizabeth explained that the group was something she started to help not just with cancer awareness, but to help girls regardless of their struggle.

Rauner talked with all of the kids about their 4-H and FFA projects and invited them all for a visit to the Governor's Mansion.

Our Greg Sapp sat down with Elizabeth Weidner following the event with the governor for this conversation about childhood cancer and the battle to secure funding for research and to heighten awareness of childhood cancer...