City Honors Local Agency, Childhood Cancer Awareness

If you don't know Amanda's story, you've missed a story of courage and grace, in the midst of unimaginable turmoil.

Amanda Riley died April 9, 2010, after battling for her life for 405 days. She'd been diagnosed with cancer --rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor of the muscles -- at the age of 16.

Across the nation, there are thousands of children newly diagnosed every year who stand in the face of cancer as Amanda did. To honor them and their families, the proclaimed September to be Childhood Cancer Awareness Month -- a time also recognized across the country.

In addition, at its , city leaders honored the work of the Amanda Riley Foundation, a Snellville charity began to to bring cheer to children battling cancer. A resolution proclaimed September 12 to be "Amanda Riley Day" in the city.

"Amanda was a fighter giving 100 percent to everything she did, and fighting cancer was no exception," the city said in its resolution.

Amanda's mother, Barbara Riley, accepted the proclamation on behalf of her daughter and the charity.

"Our foundation was established for my Amanda," she says, in a post on her website. "She suffered immensely but fought until the end. All the while, we knew the odds of her surviving were against her.

"That is why we did everything we could to make her days as pleasant as we could, not knowing how many days she would have with us. Now it is time for us to do the same for other children battling. Amanda was and will forever be my sunshine."

At the time of Amanda's diagnosis, she was an avid sports player at , and her parents -- Barbara and Steve Riley -- were her biggest cheerleaders.

Not only did Amanda leave in indelible impression on her parents, but the entire Brookwood community, which has also honored the young woman's life and helped bring awareness to childhood cancer.

For more information on the Amanda Riley Foundation and childhood cancer awareness read several stories on Snellville Patch:

This week on Snellville Patch, don't miss the inspiring story of another local child, Alan Sims, as we highlight Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.