 |
 |
Thanks to Peg Willocks for her "challenge" and suggestions for writing letters-to-the-editor. I agree it is vitally important to join our efforts with other disease organizations. Advocates for stem cell research in New York have recently formed NYAMR (New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research) , inspired by similar coalitions in other states such as Texas, California and New Jersey. A press release announcing the formation of NYAMR and its member organizations is below. Please forward this information to all of your family or friends who live in New York Linda Herman PRESS RELEASE: BROAD COALITION LAUNCHED TO PASS STEM CELL RESEARCH LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK STATE (New York, NY -- April 28, 2004) - A coalition of activists have come together from across New York who are interested in state legislation that supports stem cell research. New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (NYAMR) primarily includes disease organizations representing the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who suffer from diseases whose potential treatment and cure could ultimately result from stem cell research. In addition, other organizations have joined forces with them, such as Columbia University Medical Center, AMDEC (representing medical research institutions in NYS) and Hadassah. In response to a Presidential decision in August, 2001 to limit federal funding of stem cell research to the lines that existed at that time, states are now moving to pass legislation to permit wider research. California and New Jersey have recently passed such legislation and are being used as models for NYAMR. In 2003, New York State Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver (D-64) introduced a pro-stem cell research bill into the Assembly, which passed but stalled in the Senate. Assemblyman Silver has once again introduced the bill. The coalition is trying to secure passage in the Senate this time around. Coalition members to date include: Parkinson's Disease Foundation; Parkinson's Action Network; Parkinson Alliance; Tourette's Syndrome Association; Lupus Foundation of America; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; American Diabetes Association; Project ALS; Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation; Columbia University Medical Center; Biotechnology Association of New York; AMDEC, Community Health Charities of New York; and Hadassah. For further information and to find out how YOU can help, contact Jen Wineman, NYAMR coordinator at PDF - 800-457-6676. On Fri, 14 May 2004 17:53:49 -0400 Peggy Willocks <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Thanks, Linda. > > This was a good article. We're always told that when we meet with > legislators, we should "tell our story." That's what this article > did. It > gave us insight into what one with juvenile diabetes faces on a > daily basis. > When the personal touch is added, it sticks in the mind of the > hearer. On > the stem cell issue, we don't have the numbers of people with > Parkinson's > needed as does diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. We should be > making > every effort we can to "unite" with these other diseases. And our > personal > stories need to be getting out to the public. > > I challenge every person reading this to write a letter to the > editor of > your local newspaper this week. Talk about stem cells, but let the > focus > primarily be how much suffering takes place daily with Parkinson's. > And > don't forget to send a copy with the same plea to your lawmakers. > Then, we > will be a part of the effort so eloquently stated, "Today a > brush-fire > challenge to Bush's stem-cell policy is spreading across the U.S., > fueled by > the frustration of such families as Zucker's who have allied > themselves with > patient activists for other diseases, major universities, several > state > legislatures and members of Congress." > > Those of us supporting such research are not immoral people; we just > want to > know if this is the answer to our "cure." We, like Louis Salk > (Polio Salk > vaccine) or Marie Curie (Radium - science of radioactivity) want to > further > explore the potential of such research. What if administration had > stopped > those two discoveries? We're just wondering why it is immoral to > "fund > stem-cell research on spare embryos from a pool of some 400,000 > stored in > the freezers of in vitro fertilization clinics," possibly saving > millions > from suffering from these incurable illnesses. And as the article > states, > " These embryos, only a few days old and smaller than the head of a > pin, > will probably be discarded unless they are donated to science." > Write > today - call today. Let's be part of that brush-fire. > > Peggy > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn