FighterMom Disease Advocacy Events for Parents
Below are details about upcoming events from FighterMom and friends of the program. Bookmark this page and check back frequently for updates!
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and | FOUNDATION, INC. |
Becoming a Stronger Advocate for Your Child's Health
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Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital
Education Wing Room 163
Richmond, Virginia
June 18, 2008
6:30 P.M.
 Lisa Schaffner speaks during the Fighter Mom™ Workshop |
Second Fighter Mom™ Workshop a Success
After the tremendous success of Fighter Mom™ Friday, the inaugural Fighter Mom™ workshop in New York City, FightSMA and the Metropolitan Health Foundation were pleased to present the first-ever Fighter Mom™ workshop in Central Virginia. On June 18th, the meeting room at Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital was filled with twenty moms who wanted to become better advocates for their kids' health. Among the concerns they represented: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Sensory Integration Issues, ADHD, Processing Disorder, Anxiety, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disorders, Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke (MELAS), Autism, Impulse Control Disorder, and in uterus stroke. Panelists included Lisa Schaffner, news anchor at WRIC; Amy Nisenson, Community Affairs Manager for Wachovia; Alicia D'Alessandro a Washington-based lobbyist with Public Strategies Washington; and Cindy Maynard, a Fighter Mom™ and Founder of the Richmond-based Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation. Good, practical advice and encouragement was delivered and received by all in attendance.
 Amy Nisenson from Wachovia speaks about corporate giving |
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Many thanks to our generous |
Testimonials from the Central Virginia Workshop
"I was so impressed by everything last night. The speakers were fantastic and very encouraging. The guests were very warm and willing to share their stories. And the materials and gifts you provided, for free nonetheless, were so thoughtful and professional! I'm so glad I know about your organization. I'm proud to be a Fighter Mom!!"
"The workshop on Wednesday was absolutely wonderful. I am thankful that I was able to come and meet so many incredible moms! I can't wait for another event! Thanks you very much for putting together such a motivational evening."
"I was so glad to have attended the workshop. I had been asked by the clinic that my son attends in Atlanta to consider fund raising for their research foundation. Will, my son, had a terrible year last year and I have barely been able to keep up with his needs for now. I am glad however to have such a great resource to hopefully use soon."
"Thank you for hosting the Fightermom workshop and for including us. It has recharged my tired batteries...Truly thankful."
Helpful Resources and Links:
- Handout from panelist Alicia D'Alessandro, of Public Strategies Washington
Advocating for your child's health will inevitably bring you in touch with the government. You may need to meet with a United States Senator or with the member of the local school board. The rules are basically the same: do your homework, prepare a well-organized and convincing point of view, look for common ground, make a specific and clear "ask," follow up, and stay in touch. What follows are guidelines for taking your issue to the U.S. Congress, but the advice generally applies in all citizen/government encounters. - St. Mary's Hospital
- Bon Secours for Women
- Commonwealth Parenting
- Fighter Mom™ Friday Workshop - May 9, 2008 (New York, NY)
- Public Strategies Washington, Inc.
- WRIC (ABC Chanel 8)
- The Maynard Children's Cancer Foundation
About the Fighter Mom™ Program
Fighter Mom™ is a program powered by FightSMA (also known as "Andrew's Buddies"), an international organization dedicated to finding a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Modeled after the successful techniques developed over the past 17 years by FightSMA, Fighter Mom™ gives any mom fighting any childhood disease or disorder the tools they need to successfully engage the media, government, corporations, community, and scientists, in order to "go to battle" for their kids.
Fighter Mom™ Friday was an extraordinary day at the New York Palace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where mothers from across the Tri-State area traveled to represent children battling Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), deafness/hearing loss, Autism, Learning Disabilities, Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC), Progeria, and other diseases. On June 18th, Fighter Mom™ will open its doors to Richmond-area Fighter Moms - any mom who would go to the ends of the earth for their child.
Other Fighter Mom™ Events
Fighter Mom™ Friday - May 9, 2008