Persistence

just might be the most important quality to cultivate in order to be an effective advocate.  With persistence you keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated.  Eventually you get results, and with results comes motivation.

Two of the more persistent and effective advocates I know in the spinal cord injury community are Don Reed and Karen Miner.  They have been raising money and influencing legislation in the state of California for over 10 years.  Together they helped engineer the passage of the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act back in 1999.  Among other achievements, this little piece of legislation generated funding for the scientific research that eventually became Geron’s historic clinical trial.

Unfortunately funding for the Roman Reed Act became a victim of California’s state budget cuts.  Here’s where the persistence comes in.  Undeterred, supporters introduced a bill that would provide non-tax funding in the form of a $3 add-on fine to reckless drivers.

The bill, AB 190, goes before the Public Safety Committee at 9:30 am tomorrow (April 26).  It’s not too late for you to add your voice to the chorus supporting this legislation that is so important to advancing research into curing spinal cord injury.

More background information, a sample letter, and email addresses for the appropriate legislative aides are available by following this link.  Take action, see results, get motivated, and reward your persistence.

Tags: AB 190, clinical trials, Don Reed, Geron, Karen Miner, stem cell research