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Greetings, fellow Advocates!
The 2006 Working 2 Walk Symposium and Rally in DC is in the past,
yet the work of achieving a cure for paralysis continues. When we
meet in person at events like Working 2 Walk, we cement the fragile
bonds forged during the push for our common cause. We become stronger
as a community. Our strength as a force for change grows
exponentially when we work-and fight-together.
It's always bittersweet, coming home from an event like Working 2
Walk. We meet kindred spirits, become friends with our comrades-then
we leave with only email addresses and phone numbers to connect us.
Life is busy, people lose touch. Soon it seems but a dream, that we
met, laughed and pledged to fight together.
Such pledges DO have value. Fight we must...and fighting together
is best.
This is the last year of the 109th Congress. It is an election
year. Soon Congress will be distracted-campaigning will take
precedence over progress. They have a lot of legislation to contend
with and we are but a mosquito buzzing 'round their collective ear.
We have to get noticed-now! Please. Write your legislators, call
them, write letters to your local paper. This is the time.
Keep pushing, make some noise! Go Forward to the Finish!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis
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Did Working 2 Walk Do Any Good?
 Our visit to Washington directly resulted in 2 new Senate co-sponsors
for the Christopoher Reeve Paralysis Act, plus 10 more in the House
of Representatives! Co-sponsor lists which are updated daily can be
found here:
House of Representatives 1554
and
Senate 828.
Some advocates chose to speak to their Senators about the Stem
Cell Research Enhancement Act. To date, no new co-sponsors have been
added since Working 2 Walk. Senator Frist promised to bring SCREA up
for a Senate vote this year. Several Working 2 Walk advocates made a
point of reminding him of that vow! This bill has already passed in
the House. See the current Senate co-sponsor status here:
Senate 471.
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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it seems like we
have a thousand pictures from Working 2 Walk! See
here
for many of them! If you have pictures you would like to have
displayed on the Working 2 Walk gallery, submit the best of them to
Marilyn!
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John Smith had a brilliant idea: Let's build a Wall of Hope! This
simple display of photos and brief comments from the U.S. and 6 other
countries served as a remarkably touching reminder of those unable to
attend because of the complications of paralysis-and as a memorial
for those who have passed from the same complications. (View Wall of
Hope submissions online
here!
)
From
Noah Smith's rally day speech:
""While our presence here is a testament to our strength in the face
of adversity, the reality is that there are hundreds of thousands of
people whose resolve is equal to our own, but who are unable to be
with us because of medical complications, physical pain, or a lack of
finances. . .
It is our absence more than our presence in Washington that most cries out for a cure . . ."
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"Show Up, Speak Up, and Act Up!"
 The quote above is from Senator Tom Harkin's tremendous speech at the
Working 2 Walk Rally. Below are more notable quotes. The full text of
many of these inspiring speeches (and more!) is available
here.
Susan Sarandon, close friend of Dana Reeve
"I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to two dear friends... Christopher and Dana Reeve empowered each of us to be better, to do more, and to embrace all that life has to offer."
Senator Tom Harkin
"You've got to not only show up, but you've got to speak up and you've got to act up!"
Senator Hillary Clinton
"Christopher and Dana gave this movement visibility. They made everybody have to stop and look and think about what we should be doing to make sure that we pass this act named in Chris's honor, and also to respect the need to find cures for every form of paralysis."
Senator John Kerry
"What is necessary is to commit this great nation, the richest nation on the planet, to do what is right. What is right is to invest the money necessary into the research, so that people may be whole again."
Representative James Langevin
"...Together we now have to take up their mantle, and their cause, and as they would say, "Go Forward". Today, this is a call to arms, as we come together again to fight for a cure for spinal cord injuries."
Brooke Ellison
"It would be easy for many of us to feel powerless. But there are days like this, and events like this, that make us realize we need never feel that way. Why? Because we have the power of unity."
Betheny Winkler
"There is nobody else to fight this war against paralysis. It is up to us. We are the soldiers, the generals, the commanders-in-chief. In paralysis as in war, the repercussions ring far into the future. And just like soldiers, all too often we bury our dead. This about more than just wheelchairs."
Marilyn Smith
"If you're the family member of someone with a spinal cord injury, you will never forget the moment when you heard the news. . . .The moment of injury defines your life from that point forward. Your presence here today testifies to the new being you are creating. The fire that was lit at the moment of injury is burning bright today. It is fueled by hope, by passion, and by a determination that must not falter . . . "
Susan Maus
"'Mission possible'. This is why we have assembled here today to learn about emerging therapies, the State of rehabilitation/recovery medicine, and the establishment of clinical trials to test human application of these therapies. We cannot stop there. Most of us realize our scientists, as tremendous as they are, cannot achieve a cure for paralysis alone. They need our help and support. . ."
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The Organizers of Working 2 Walk
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis would like
to thank the
Christopher Reeve Foundation,
the
Working 2 Walk sponsors,
and everybody who participated for making Working 2 Walk a success!
Organizer's photo:
Standing: Rachel Hammerman, Tricia Brooks of the
Christopher Reeve Foundation.
Seated: Betheny Winkler, Chris Chappell, Marilyn Smith, Susan
Maus of
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis.
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More Ideas! |
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Join the Christopher Reeve Foundation Action Network!
The Action Network is an advocacy forum to keep individuals
informed of legislation and initiatives being advanced in Washington.
Membership is free -- to join, just fill out the
online form.
Members receive regular e-mail updates, action alerts, and
opportunities to come to Washington to meet with Members of Congress.
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Follow UP! |
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......On Congressional visits!
Now is the time for persistent follow-up to our recent lobbying
efforts in DC. Working 2 Walk laid the groundwork for you to persuade
your legislators to co-sponsor the
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act!
Get your legislator's contact info
here.
..Template letters for you to use
here!
Easiest of all, use this
form letter
from the Christopher Reeve Foundation!
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Get Out There! |
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Attend cure-based activities...advocates from U2FP will be attending
these upcoming events!
Rally For The Cure
Fundraiser for the Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience
June 10, 2006
The Winter Garden
World Financial Center
New York City
Stem Cell Policy & Advocacy Summit
"Arm yourself for stem cell advocacy in the real world!"
Stanford University
Palo Alto CA
June 9-11
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Call-In! |
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Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, chairs the committee that is responsible for
passage/nonpassage of the CRPA. Sources tell us this committee has
yet to put the CRPA on their calendar for consideration. We've spent
a year trying to get constituents from Wyoming to contact Senator
Enzi...on June 7 we're thinking "outside the box". We're planning a
non-constituent call-in, fax-in day. We have to get noticed! More
info coming soon!
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Bridges 2 Hope |
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The Wall of Hope at Working 2 Walk proved to be an effective and
moving way to present our faces and our stories, even for those that
couldn't attend. We at U2FP want to carry the idea into the future,
but with a name unique to victims of any type of paralysis-Bridges 2
Hope. Cure of paralysis always requires bridging, whether of brain
tissue or spinal cord damage. We hope you will join us as this
project evolves!
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