At Wed, 16 Oct 2002, Jo Eslick wrote:
> >Hello to all my wonderful IAS friends and family. As you know for the >last almost two months we have been working on an awareness campaign for >ARD. Well Anthea Nesbitt has proven that we do indeed have a voice and >a story that people want to hear. > >Anthea, Browkenwing, Shawna French and I urge EACH of you to visit the >press gallery on http://www.bombobeach.com and READ all the wonderful articles >and letters we have managed to publish so far. > >This is JUST the beginning, we have made a very detailed and careful >plan, and we are following it TO THE LETTER, and it proves that “we >don't PLAN to fail we fail to plan!! > >By working out exactly what our goals and reasons for this mission are, >we have managed to be organised and professional and get our stories >published. > >How has this made those with published letters and articles feel? >FANTASTIC!! The bonus to all this is we have managed to put a positive >spin on our daily challenges and illness, we feel proud of ourselves and >although we still feel our pain, we can hold our heads high, we aren't >hiding in a corner waiting for help, we are SEEKING out the help >ourselves. > >I promise each of you, writing a letter to the editor of your local >paper will make you feel amazing. If it doesn't manage to get >published, that's ok too, because YOU made an effort and that is SO >important. If you have the courage, call the paper and ask why your >letter wasn't published and what you need to do to make that happen. > >Below this long-winded message (as usual hehehe) is Anthea Nesbitt’s >message to all of you. I am so proud of Anthea, she has taken on the >role of coordinator and was nervous, but she has proved to herself and >everyone else just what kind of strength she has. > >Congratulations Anthea, I am so proud of you and I am proud to have you >as a friend. > >Love and warm gentle hugs to everyone, >Jo > >Now here's Anthea: > >Posted by Anthea on October 16, 2002 at 22:42:12:on http://www.bombobeach.com > >Dear Everyone, >We have such good news to share. Our publicity campaign is working >!!!!! The letter campaign has lead to some exciting networking with the >print media !!!!!! I had the opportunity to work with a reporter from >the Columbus Dispatch[ here in Ohio] and the article he did for all of >US was published on Tuesday of this week in the Dispatch. The article >took up the whole first page of the Accent section, with huge headlines >!!!!! Dennis Fiely[the reporter] has done a wonderful job of putting >this awareness of ARD into the public eye. He highlighted the plight of >one of our fellow sufferers in Dayton, Ohio. He has received many calls >and e-mails and so have I. I am currently in contact with another >reporter in Ohio. I have also met with a very good free-lance writer >who is writing a story about ARD. She will be submitting this to many >national publications when it is completed.The point is, each of us can >make a difference. As Jo has said,"We are taking small bites from this >huge elephant[ARD]".Each small bite WILL help in a BIG way. Please >consider writing a letter-to-the-editor to your local newspaper. The >information to help you do this is on bombobeach.com [ Sept. news >letter] and check out the Press Gallery to see all the articles and >letters already posted. This is the grass-roots effort that I have been >talking about for weeks now.It proves that this method DOES work. Please >join the ride of advocacy awareness, consider that your VOICE does >count.The power is in each of us to make a difference. Love and Comfy >Hugs, Anthea