¦ April 28, 2007
MR. SCHMIDT GOES TO WASHINGTON

Members of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation spent a busy few days in Washington, D.C., as founder, Sam Schmidt, and President, Ida Cahill, took part in the Unite 2 Fight Paralysis’ “Working 2 Walk 2007” event from April 22nd to April 24th. Immediately after, Cahill was an invited guest of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to be a part of their paralysis task force meeting that took place through the 26th.

On the 24th, Schmidt was one of the keynote speakers to address the rally gathered at Upper Senate Park on Capitol Hill. The event was a warm-up for paralysis research advocates to prepare for a busy season of lobbying as the 110th Congress will be fresh on their way after their spring recess.

“With all the recent legislation and debates going on in the capital, we all felt that this was an important event to attend to make sure our voices were heard,” said Schmidt. “Obviously, we need as many ears as possible to hear our cause to help us in finding medical breakthroughs in the spinal cord research field.

“It was a great event to attend, and we received a lot of positive response from it.”

Besides Schmidt and Cahill, also in attendance at the event were House Representatives Tammy Baldwin (Wis.) and Jim Langevin (R.I.), actor Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, and cure researchers Dr. John McDonald and Dr. Wise Young.

The event came to a close with activists taking the words of encouragement from Schmidt and others to energetically pursue meetings with representatives of their respective states to further develop opportunities for federal aid, influence, and support in the spinal cord research field.

Cahill said, “Sam and I felt it was important to meet with those Senators that are opposed to the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The majority of Americans and researchers support this research that will benefit millions in this country alone. We don’t believe our citizens should travel to China, Spain, South America, or elsewhere for treatment where there is no follow-up.

“They have the right to have treatments available to them here.”

On the 25th and 26th, Cahill took part in the Paralysis Task Force to help develop a public health action plan as a guest of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and their Paralysis Resource Center (PRC).

The two-day workshop allowed participants to examine the past and current status of the paralysis public health action plan and see what could be done to better implement the plan as a whole to the public.

“The work of the Paralysis Task Force is so important to the millions of Americans who have paralysis,” Cahill said. “Bringing together organizations, such as the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, to hear how the healthcare system affects our constituents and attempt to arrive at a plan – that is a daunting task.

The goal of the action plan is to establish a framework for which public policies, aid, and quality of life could be increased for those in the paralysis community.

Cahill said, “Attempting to put together a recommendation that will be carried out by local, state, and federal government takes the experience and vision of many people who are on the frontlines working with people with disabilities.

“Too many Americans need help and a support system, and we simply need to find the answers.”

Attendees to the event included the Honorable Jim Langevin of the United States Congress and Margaret Giannini, Director, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Paralysis Resource Center, formed through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Cooperative Agreement number U10/CCU220379), provides information services to people and their families nationwide who are living with paralysis. For more information on the PRC, please visit http://www.paralysis.org/.