The Dollar General Market wants to take time to thank all of its customers in our city and surrounding areas for their help in making our school supplies selling event a success. With your help we were able to raise over $5,000 and still going. The following schools and clubs received all of the supplies: Ardmore, Cedar Hill, Elkton, Blanche, Elkmont, Piney Chapel, Johnson, Lil’ Tigers Daycare, First Baptist Wee Care, the Boys & Girls Club and the Civitan Club.

Thanks again!

Store Manager

Jim Hill

And Associates

In This 21st century age of technology, it is hard to believe that the estimated 5000 to 6000 children in Alabama who struggle daily with arthritis must travel outside of our state to be treated by a pediatric rheumatologist. Some of Alabama’s children and their families are traveling to cities such as Pensacola, Atlanta, and Cincinnati to see a pediatric rheumatologist.

Now for the first time in thirty years, there is legislation that could improve the lives of Alabama’s youngest arthritis sufferers. The Arthritis Prevention, Control, And Cure Act (APCC) would, in part, establish pediatric rheumatology fellowships and a loan forgiveness plan to encourage more medical students to pursue a career in pediatric rheumatology. The APCC would also strengthen the arthritis research platform by ensuring that the limited federal funding for arthritis research is used in the most strategic manner possible. The bill would also expand public health response to arthritis by strengthening arthritis public health initiatives, which would ensure that more people are diagnosed early and avoid pain and permanent disability.

As of June 21, 2006, The APCC Has 193 co-sponsors in Congress (House) and 46 co-sponsors in the Senate. Currently Alabama Congressmen Spencer Bachus, Jo Bonner, Artur Davis, and Mike Rogers are among the co-sponsors. Neither of Alabama’s Senators has agreed to support the more than one million Alabamians with arthritis by co-sponsoring this bill. It is imperative that the APCC receives additional co-sponsors in the House and Senate. Please contact your Congressman and Senators and urge them to co-sponsor this significant act. For more information go to www.arthritis.org or call 1-800-879-7896.

Let’s do our part to ensure that this act is passed. Maybe you are someone like me who lives a life of pain and surgeries due to arthritis. This pain for me started at the age of eight and has continued for the past 38 years. Because Alabama does not have a pediatric rheumatologist, my rheumatoid arthritis was not diagnosed until age 23. Or maybe you are a family member or friend of someone who lives this life of pain. Chances are you fit into one of these categories because Alabama has the second highest prevalence rate for arthritis in the United States (adult and children). 1.3 million Alabamians have a doctor-diagnosed form of arthritis. There are more than 120 forms. Arthritis costs Alabama $2.5 billion annually in lost wages and medical care. This makes arthritis an issue for every Alabama citizen-an issue that must be addressed before this $2.5 billion figure increases.

The APCC 2005 is in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Senator Jeff Sessions is a member of this committee. The APCC must come out of this committee by the beginning of October 2006 or it will have to be re-introduced.

We must do something now. Please contact Senator Jeff Sessions, Senator Richard Shelby, Congressman Robert Aderholt (District 4), Congressman Bud Cramer, Jr. (District 5), and Congressman Terry Everett (District 2). For Senate contact information go to www.senate.gov. The Senate summer district work period is scheduled for August 7 through September 4, 2006. For House of Representatives contact information go to www.house.gov. The Congress summer district work period is scheduled for July 31 through September 1, 2006.

They are the voices that speak for Alabama citizens. Let us speak loud and clear so that they will know what we want, what we need them to say! Alabama’s children are courageous. We are proud of them and their families and the strength of character they possess. Now let us make them proud of us. Together we can make a difference in the lives of Alabama’s children. Then we can truly call our state, our home, “Alabama the Beautiful.”

Sincerely,

Cindy Criswell Ducker

State Advocacy Chair

Arthritis Foundation, Alabama Chapter