Since 1996, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) funding of the Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) has made important contributions helping people not only with NF but it also translates to cardiovascular, learning disabilities, war-related injuries, and other illnesses. The Littlest Tumor Foundation advocates keeping the research for NF ongoing. In order keep the DOD’s funding for the research going, the Littlest Tumor Foundation asked people throughout northeastern Wisconsin and beyond to sign a letter of support letting both the U.S. Congress and Senate that people wanted the research to continue. We went to the University of Wisconsin’s Oshkosh and Green Bay campuses collecting signatures of support and spreading the word about neurofibromatosis to students and others. Many people had not even heard of NF but when they did they were more than eager to sign the letter of support to potentially impact 175 million people. We had even met people who have NF as well!
After collecting the signatures, we sent out letters of support to our congressional representatives from the eight Wisconsin districts. We were able to meet with every congressional office and sentorial aide in both Washington D.C. and Wisconsin. When we got back in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin, we had face-to-face appointments with Rep. Tom Petri in Fond du Lac, Rep. Reid Ribble and Tony, Senator Ron Johnson’s aide. At the meetings we discussed the importance of the DOD’s NF research and how it would impact millions of people in the US and abroad as well as raising awareness about NF. Since the sending of the letters of support and meetings, Representatives Reid Ribble, District 8, Gwen Moore, District 4, Tammy Baldwin, District 12, and Thomas Petri, District 6, have signed the letter. Thank you all who have taken a little time to sign the letter of support to continue the Neurofibromatosis Research program, our hard work has paid off thanks to you! In the end, we sent out 2,822 letters of support.
