* I didn’t see this press release when it came out last Friday, but I did see the ad last night. It’s pretty darned good…

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ (R-Ill.) campaign today launched its first television ad of the 2016 general election telling the story of Jonny Wade, a seven-year-old boy from Jerseyville who lost his battle with brain cancer last Christmas Eve.

The ad features Kim Wade, Jonny’s mother, who reached out to Davis’ office to help carry out Jonny’s mission of receiving more than four percent funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for pediatric cancer research so no other kid has to have cancer.

“As a father of twin boys, Jonny and Jacky’s bond hit home for me,” said Davis. “Jonny’s mission to ensure no kid ever has to have cancer should be this country’s next ‘moonshot.’ Cancer has impacted the lives of nearly every American, regardless of political affiliation. This is an issue Republicans and Democrats in Washington should be able to come together on. I continue to work with my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to advance research and make Jonny’s mission of curing cancer a reality.”

* The entire one-minute spot features Johnny’s mom speaking to the camera, with photos of the child and Congressman Davis interspersed…

This is what it’s supposed to be all about.

* Transcription…

When Johnny was 7 years old, he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma. Brain cancer. 363 days later, he passed away.

Johnny, from the very beginning, said “Mama, I don’t want any other kid to have cancer.” And so it became a mission for him, and now a mission for me.

Only 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s budget goes to pediatric cancer research.

Before Johnny had passed, Congressman Davis came and saw him. Johnny pointed to his head and said “I want help with this. I want more than 4 percent.”

Rodney Davis has been instrumental in getting more funding for pediatric cancer. We just need more people like Rodney Davis and his leadership.

If Johnny was here today, he would be giving a fist bump to Rodney Davis for all that he has done.