TAMPA, Fla. — Parents who have lost children to cancer and others impacted by the disease are heading to Washington, D.C. to push for prioritizing more funding for pediatric cancer research.

Families with the 1 Voice Foundation say recent spending cuts have increased the momentum behind the motivation.

Bonnie and Scott Woodworth’s daughter, Tatumn died in 2012 from cancer, when she was just 4 years old.

“We were told at that point, we really don’t have any treatments, take her home and enjoy her, make some memories and we were very shocked, we didn’t know what to make of that,” said Bonnie.

The parents said they are still shocked more advancements have not been made in the 13 years since the death of their youngest child.

“We aren’t going to get to do that Sweet 16 party, a prom, a driver’s license or even throw her a wedding,” said Bonnie. “So, this is really all we can do for her is go to Washington, advocate for her.”

The couple will join other families in Washington on Feb. 26 and advocate for their daughter, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age three, while pushing for lawmakers to prioritize funding research for all pediatric cancers.

The National Cancer Institute reports only 4% of federal funding goes to pediatric cancer research. And recent spending cuts add more concern for the cancer community.

“Reminding them that this is still happening, and this is still not going away,” said Scott.

Initiatives including incentives to develop new pediatric drugs, treatments and research were recently slashed from the federal budget.

“We really want to try and reinstate those bills that were important,” said Bonnie. They were motivation for pharmaceutical companies to create drugs for kids, there were things about collecting data.”

Showing personalized cards, the couple says it will take a personal message to politicians.

“We really want them to get an idea of our story and who Tatumn was,” said Bonnie. “I don’t want another family to go through what we went through and if we can go to Washington and we can advocate for more funding,

“I feel that is a part of her legacy we can at least leave behind.”