2007 Advocacy Day in DC

LRI National Coalition Voices Need for More Research, New Treatments for Lupus

Lupus advocates from 20 states representing the Lupus Research Institute’s National Coalition, converged on more than 40 Senate and 100 House of Representatives offices on April 25th to voice messages of urgent concern to the lupus community:

1. Increase funding for the NIH.
2. Support the Trans-Institute 5-Year Lupus Plan.
3. Counter racial disparities in lupus.
4. Strengthen and streamline the clinical trials process.

The advocates started their day at a morning “advocacy training” session before heading together to Capitol Hill. The goal: to make the message so clear that the Patient Voice for Lupus Research would be transmitted—and remembered—for months and years to come.

The LRI congratulates all who made their voices heard on National Coalition Advocacy Day 2007!

Sandi Frear, Florida Congressman Bill Young, Sheila Watts
and Lupus Foundation of Mid and Northern New York President/CEO Kathleen Arntsen

Barbara Hastings, Heather Blum of Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's Office
and Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania Executive Director Deborah Nigro

Helen Lenart, Kathleen Arntsen, New York Representative Michael Arcuri,
Sandi Frear and Sheila Watts

Marian Belotti, Lee Slater of Pennsylvania Representative Jason Altmire's Office
and Barbara Hastings