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Tonya Matthews Passes Away
We are sorry to report that one of the special people we featured on Broadcasting Hope passed away Sunday October 11th.  Zaxby's and Wireless Xpress are selling T-shirts to benefit Haley's fund.
Read the details here.  

It is time to help one of the those who has helped so many others, and who has made so many sacrifices. It's time for Broadcasting Hope 2009 and we need YOU to help us shine the light of hope for Major and Mrs. Mark Harris of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and their son Johnathan. Little Johnathan suffers from Type 3 SMA- Spinal Muscular Atrophy. There are three types with Type 1 being the most severe that generally claims the child's life before their second birthday. SMA is actually the most curable disorder in children; however, it is also the #1 genetic killer in children under 2 years of age. If you think this is a rare disorder, think again - SSgt. Jeremy Burch, who works in the same Squadron as Major Harris, has a son Logan with Type 1 SMA. Logan is just over a year and a half old.

Researchers have determined the cure for this disorder is literally right around the corner; however our government, at this point in time, will not fund the research - for reasons truly unknown. If you could, please place yourself in the shoes of Major Harris for a moment and realize how frustrating it is to know there is a cure right next door, but you may never see your child run because of the lack of government funding. Add the knowledge that this disorder is a gateway to many others that could be on the road to being cured...if only.

1 in 40 people carry this gene and most don't know it until their child is diagnosed with SMA. In a day and age when we can pay money for Cash For Clunkers, National Endowment of The Arts, etc. we can't pay out for continued research for this terrible disorder. As we write this update, we've just learned that Jakob Oliver "Ollie" Mastin, who had Type 1 SMA, passed away in his parents arms on August 3rd in Raleigh, two days shy of his first birthday.

Learn more about SMA here on BroadcastingHope.com and sign the petition to pass this bill for further research.   But calling (or writing or emailing) your Congressman or Congresswoman can have a greater impact. It only takes 10 to 20 calls to get an issue on a Legislator's radar screen. Just a 100 or so calls has the power to sway a vote. And it only takes 5 minutes to call. Call the Capital Hill Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  We need YOUR support for not only children in North Carolina, but across this great country and the world!