A new Missouri law creates a checkbox on Missouri income tax forms that allows taxpayers to contribute a minimum of $1 of their tax return to fund pediatric cancer research.
“Sahara’s Law” was introduced by Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Wayne Wallingford, and it’s named after Sahara Aldridge.
“She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and she fought that battle for 17 months, going through chemotherapy and radiation and even some alternate treatments,” Wallingford said. “But sadly she passed away when she was 13.”
Wallingford said the funds will go to an organization called CureSearch For Cancer.
“They actually send money out to other research facilities, so some of the money actually comes right here back to Missouri. So it benefits the cancer research centers that are making good progress, and some of those are right here in Missouri,” Wallingford said.
Governor Jay Nixon signed the legislation on June 28. The law goes into effect August 28.