Contact Congress in Support of the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009

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Below are two possible letters: one for Senators and one for Representatives. The text of the letter can be copied and pasted into an e-mail or you can download a Word file. Please send this letter by e-mail or fax. (Regular mail must pass through a long screening process and takes 3-4 weeks to arrive.)
Letter for Senators Letter for Representatives

download Word file OR copy and paste text from below

 download Word file OR copy and paste text from below

Your name
Your home address
Your home address, line 2

Senator (your Senator’s name here)
(your Senator’s office address here)
(your Senator’s office address line 2)
Washington , DC 20515

(Today’s date)

Dear Senator (your Senator’s name here):

I am writing to express my support for the National Pediatric Brain Tumor Prevention Act, S.305. This first-of-its-kind legislation provides for $25 million a year for five years for research into the epidemiology of brain tumors in children, with the ultimate goal of preventing and curing this tragic disease. I ask that you support it and urge your colleagues to do the same.

Cancer is the number one disease killer of children. And brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in children, yet almost nothing in known about what causes them and the few risk factors that have been identified explain only a small fraction of all cases. Children diagnosed with malignant brain tumors have only a 60 percent survival rate. Those that do survive have long-term health problems and disabilities due to the invasiveness of brain tumors, surgeries, and treatment. The cure rates for many pediatric brain tumors have changed little in 20 years.

This act mandates the creation of a Pediatric Brain Tumor Prevention Network within the National Cancer Institute to provide grants and coordinate research to determine risk factors and causes of childhood brain tumors. Funded research will investigate a range of possible causes, such as environmental exposures, nutrition, genetics and epigenetics, and regions in which affected children live.

We need the support of the federal government in funding research into the causes of this disease. The private sector cannot do it alone. We need to get behind this effort to reduce the incidence and impact of pediatric brain tumors. Many of the parents of children with brain tumors are immersed in the fight to save their child and don't have the time or energy to call you themselves. Please know I speak for them in asking for your support of this issue and this bill.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

 

Your name
Your home address
Your home address, line 2

Representative (Congressperson's name)
(Congressperson's office address here)
(Congressperson's office address line 2)
Washington , DC 20515

(Today’s date)

Dear Representative (Congressperson's name here):

I am writing to express my support for the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act, H.R.653. This landmark legislation would provide $25 million per year for five years for research into the epidemiology of brain tumors in children, with the ultimate goal of preventing and curing this deadly and devastating disease. I ask that you support it and urge your colleagues to do the same. Congresswoman Lee is the sponsor of this bill. Please contact her office about co-sponsorship.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in children, yet almost nothing in known about what causes them and the few risk factors that have been identified explain only a small fraction of all cases. As a whole, children diagnosed with malignant brain tumors have only a 60 percent survival rate, and some types much less than that. Many that do survive have long-term health problems and disabilities due to the invasiveness of brain tumors, surgeries, and treatment. The cure rates for many pediatric brain tumors have changed little in 20 years.

This act mandates the creation of a Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network within the National Cancer Institute to provide grants and coordinate research to determine risk factors and causes of childhood brain tumors. Groups of children from the same geographic region would be put into 'catchment' areas, creating statistically significant findings that would be applicable to the general population. Funded research will investigate a range of possible causes, such as environmental exposures, nutrition, genetics and epigenetics, and regions in which affected children live. This would provide valuable information in the prevention, and potentially the treatment, of these diseases.

We need the support of the federal government in funding research into the causes of this disease. The private sector cannot do it alone. We need to get behind this effort to reduce the incidence and impact of pediatric brain tumors. Many of the parents of children with brain tumors are immersed in the fight to save their child and don't have the time or energy to call you themselves. Please know I speak for them in asking for your support of this issue and this bill.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

Phone Call Outline
(Printable version here)

When the phone is answered at your representative's office, ask for the staff member who handles health care. If they are not available, you can call back, or relay your message to the person who answered.

Hi. My name is _____________________, and I am a constituent of (Senator or Congressman/woman) ________________.

I am calling to express my support for the National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act. This bill was jointly introduced in the House and Senate on January 21 st , by Congresswoman Lee and Senators Schumer and Vitter. The bill would provide $25 million per year for five years for research into the epidemiology of brain tumors in children. I am calling to ask that you support this bill.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in children , but very little is known about their cause. Children diagnosed with malignant brain tumors have an overall survival rate of 60%, and some types much less than that. Many that do survive have long-term health problems and disabilities due to the invasiveness of brain tumors, surgeries, and treatment. The cure rates for many pediatric brain tumors have changed little in 20 years.

This act mandates the creation of a Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network within the National Cancer Institute to oversee grants and coordinate research to determine risk factors and causes of childhood brain tumors. Groups of children from the same geographic region would be put into 'catchment' areas, creating statistically significant findings that would be applicable to the general population. Funded research will investigate a full range of possible causes, such as environmental exposures, nutrition, genetics and epigenetics, and regions in which affected children live. This would provide valuable information in the prevention, and potentially the treatment, of these diseases.

We need the support of the federal government in funding research into the causes of this disease. The private sector cannot do it alone. Many of the parents of children with brain tumors are immersed in the fight to save their child and don't have the time or energy to call you themselves. Please know I speak for them in asking for your support of this issue and this bill.

Thank you!

Notes for reference if asked:
- In the House, the bill is HR 653. In the Senate the bill is S.305.
- There will be a Congressional briefing on March 25th . Please contact Congresswoman's Lee office for the details.

 


 

 

Our Mission

The goals of Mira's Movement are to increase public awareness of the incidence and impact of childhood cancer, to provide resources and support for families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, and to broaden support for increased federal funding of pediatric cancer and brain tumor research.

Mira's Story

Mira's Movement was launched in honor and memory of our daughter, Mira Brouwer, who died April 26, 2008, at the age of 4, from unforeseen complications of treatment to prevent the return of brain cancer. (Read more...)

 

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© 2009 Mira's Movement

Last modified March 18, 2009