Neurological Research in California

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend:

Five years ago my son Roman was injured in a football game. His

neck was broken, and he became paralyzed from the shoulders down. The

doctors gave us no hope, saying he would never walk again, or close his

hands, or father a child.

Were they right? Can there be no cure: for the spinal cord injury

paralysis which struck down my son and 400,000 other Americans, more

than one out of every thousand citizens? Listen to

internationally-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Wise Young: " It is no

longer a question of if , (there can be a cure) but when… " The " when "

depends on research funds.

Help us pass California’s Assembly Bill 750: the Roman Spinal Cord

Injury Research Act. We are asking $25 million a year for five years,

spent on research for cure.

And something wonderful. For as researchers battle spinal cord injury

(SCI) paralysis, the knowledge gained will benefit more than five

million Americans, and their families. I am sure you know someone right

now who is struggling with the terrible memory loss of Ahlzheimers, the

crippling slow agony of multiple sclerosis, or the sudden horror of

stroke—SCI research helps us fight these terrible conditions. Again, Dr.

Young:

" Spinal cord injury research aims at several targets: neuroprotection,

remyelination, regeneration, and cell replacement: all these targets are

highly relevant to Ahlzheimers, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and nearly 400

other neurological diseases… "

If you agree it is time we go after these problems in a systemmatic way,

we ask that you write one letter of support, and copy it to the twelve

Senators and Assemblymembers (addresses enclosed) who will be voting on

our bill.

Years from now, we will look back, and be glad we did this work. As

Roman puts it, " Take a stand with us, supporting research funding. Take

a stand—so everybody can. "

>From my family to yours, thank you very much.

All best,

Don C.

Chairperson, CALIFORNIANS FOR CURE: and Roman ’s dad.

P.S. If you would like a flier with more information, e-mail me at

divrdon@...

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR LETTER

Short personal one page letters carry the most impact. Please give

your personal reason for supporting research for cure—say, I have been

in a wheelchair for twelve years, or my best friends son has multiple

sclerosis, or I know someone—be brief, but be personal.

Important: include your PHONE NUMBER (including area code) in your

address block inside the letter. They almost never call you up, but this

verifies your letter is real.

SAMPLE LETTER (we ask that you send a copy to the twelve folks on other

side.)

Dear Assemblymember or Senator___________:

Please support spinal cord injury research funding in the California

State budget this year.

I (my friend/relative) am paralyzed (have multiple sclerosis, stroke,

other). It is an expensive and devastating condition which can and

should be cured.

I urge you to support Assembly Bill 750: the Roman Spinal Cord

Research Act. In the budget it will be placed in the University of

California section, line item 6440.

Please let me know your decision.

Thank you,

Your name

TEN REASONS TO SUPPORT CURE (use one or two if you wish)

1. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)paralysis cost California $1.2 billion

dollars last year.

2. In medical costs and lost wages, our country spent 9.6 billion last

year on SCI paralysis alone—just maintaining folks, without making

anyone better.

3. More than one out every thousand Americans (400,000) is paralyzed

with a spinal cord injury. Every 49 minutes another person receives SCI

paralysis.

4. Because the spinal cord is central to the nervous system, spinal cord

injury research will help cure Ahlzheimer’s disease, stroke, and 400

other neurological conditions.

5. As the space race developed computers and gave us silicon valley,

supporting neurological research will benefit business, contributing to

our biotech industry.

6. SCI research for cure is backed by Kaiser Permanente, the National

Spinal Cord Injury Association, Reeve, General Norman

Schwartzkopf, many more.

7. A paralyzed quadriplegic faces life time medical costs from $1-5

million dollars.

8. For a paralyzed person, just going to the bathroom can cost $5 each

time—for just one catheterization kit. Getting up in the morning can

take two hours.

9. Paralysis carries many hidden dangers: like skin sores which can

ulcerate to the bone.

10. Some folks have terrible, endless pain like being burned alive.

PLEASE WRITE ONE LETTER AND SEND A COPY TO THESE PEOPLE

ASSEMBLYMEMBER SARAH REYES,

State Capitol,

ROOM 5128

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2031

ASSEMBLYMEMBER BILL LEONARD

State Capitol,

ROOM 2175

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2063

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ROBERT PACHECO

State Capitol,

ROOM 4177

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2060

ASSEMBLYMEMBER JACK SCOTT

State Capitol

ROOM 4146

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2044

ASSEMBLYMEMBER SCOTT WILDMAN

State Capitol

ROOM 3091

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2043

SENATOR JACK OÕCONNELL

State Capitol

ROOM 5035

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.5405

SENATOR JAMES BRULTE

State Capitol

ROOM 5087

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.3688

SENATOR JOSEPH DUNN

State Capitol

ROOM 2068

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.5831

SENATOR ADAM SCHIFF

State Capitol

ROOM 5080

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.5976

SENATOR JOHN BURTON, PRESIDENT PRO TEM

State Capitol

ROOM 203

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.1412

SENATOR STEVE PEACE, CHAIR OF BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

State Capitol

ROOM 3060

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.445.6767

ASSEMBLYWOMAN DENISE MORENO DUCHENY, CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

State Capitol

ROOM 6026

Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.319.2079