On this important day, a favor to ask

by: anoodle

Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 04:55:14 PM EDT

I know everyone here is concentrating on Pennsylvania and the results due to come in starting at 8 pm, but I need a favor. (Cross Posted at Daily Kos)

A friend of mine is asking for signatures on an important petition designed to support the JDRF's Promise to Remember Campaign. Nearly every other congressmen in NJ has agreed to meet with the JDRF, but so far, Congressman Smith (R) 4th district has refused. This petition is meant to (gently) encourage Congressman Smith to take the meeting. Obviously we're hoping this gentle request will be taken seriously.

more below the snip......

anoodle :: On this important day, a favor to ask

Here's the petition. This is an incredibly dedicated father doing all he can to help his daughter and the millions of other people with diabetes; please take a second to read the petition and sign it.

Hello,
I am writing to you as the father of a child with type I diabetes. I am writing to ask for a moment of your time, a moment that very well may lead to finding a cure for my daughter, Arden, and the millions of other human beings that struggle every day to live with type I diabetes.
Last Friday I was approached by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and asked to assist them with their "Promise to Remember Me Campaign".
The Promise Campaign is a coordinated effort to put members of congress and senators in a room with their diabetic constituents. The meeting is used as an opportunity to thank the representatives, to explain to them what it is like to live with diabetes and to implore them to support legislation that funds children's health issues, specifically, the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (Special Diabetes Program). The Special Diabetes Program is set to expire in 2009 and the JDRF is working tirelessly to renew it.
The Promise to Remember Me meetings play an integral part in culling support from our U.S. Representatives in Congress and the Senate.
Thus far, the JDRF has had little luck in convincing my Congressman, Chris Smith (R) of New Jersey's 4th District, to take a meeting with them. By accepting their call for help I have committed myself to scheduling a meeting by April 30, 2008 - that is just eight days from today. Previous attempts by other JDRF volunteers to schedule the meeting have been unsuccessful.
I am humbly asking that you take a moment to fill out a short online petition that simply says, " We, the undersigned, respectfully urge Congressman Chris Smith (R) of New Jersey's 4th District to meet with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Promise to Remember Me Campaign.".
Your support today could easily be responsible for ending this global health crisis. In just the past few weeks two children that live in my town have been diagnosed with type I diabetes. There is no way for me to briefly explain to you the truly catastrophic effects that diabetes has had on my family. I'll just say that by signing my petition you would doing Arden and the millions of others that are afflicted, the greatest kindness I can imagine.
With Warmest Personal Regards,
Scott Benner

Some important links:

Arden's Blog

Digg it

Petition