May 1-7, 2011
An inspiring group of brain tumor community volunteer advocates met with their U.S. Senators and Representatives on May 3 to impress upon them the importance of finding new therapies and advancing research on brain tumors.
Following the successful launch of the GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME® Brain Tumor Awareness Movement in Delaware on Saturday, April 30 and the Race for Hope - DC on Sunday, May 1, a group including patients, survivors, and caregivers carried our cause an important step further. They took the message to Congress to ask elected officials to do their part by maintaining and even increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to maintain funding for the Peer Review Cancer Research Program within the Department of Defense.
NBTS’s volunteer advocates shared their connection to brain tumors in ways that got the attention of Congress and underscored why research funding is needed. Here’s what a few of the many advocates that attended accomplished this week:
Andrea Bortles of Boise, Idaho shared her journey as a young woman in her twenties who was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma, received treatment developed by medical research, and is doing well today. She told her story to her U.S. Senator who was clearly moved by her story of survivorship.
Deb Haeder of Maryland courageously shared her recent experience as a caregiver and conveyed why NIH needs to be more prepared to accept a brain for research. She advocated with staff of her U.S. Senator.
Nijole Byla of Florida educated staff of a U.S. Representative about the important connection between research and treatment, and how NIH’s leadership role is essential.
Kris Knight of Maine engaged Senator Susan Collins in personal dialogue about the importance of funding research and reaffirmed her commitment to being a leader in the fight against brain tumors.
Gartrell White of Virginia shared his knowledge as a scientist to urge his U.S. Senators and Representatives to hold the line and reinvest in cancer research.
Chris Grundner of Pennsylvania built great relationships with his U.S. Senators and Representatives and shared his caregiver story. His personal approach helped secure commitments from Members of Congress to do all they can to ensure medical research is supported.
Each and every brain tumor community advocate that attended Brain Tumor Action Week deserves a shout out to their courage, conviction, and persistence.
We’re already looking forward to and planning for next year’s Brain Tumor Action Week.
BUT! In the meantime we have a lot of advocacy to do together to keep the momentum going.
- Continue to Take Action by contacting your Members of Congress and use the tools and instructions provided on the Advocacy page.
- Sign up to be part of the NBTS Advocacy Team and be a brain tumor community advocate.
- Stay Tuned for new advocacy tools and info.
Let us know – if you know of anyone who would like to get involved in the fight against brain tumors as an advocate.
Read the official press release about the 2011 Brain Tumor Action Week.
