Postage Stamp Writing Campaign for Childhood Cancer Awareness.

Recently we learned that childhood cancer was not chosen for a commemorative stamp (a first class stamp) for 2003. It also will not be included for 2004 or 2005, as the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC), is now working on stamp selections for 06 and 07.

To that end, we are continuing with our request for a semipostal (fundraising stamp) for childhood cancer. This too has been an on-going effort but now we are "taking the gloves off" and asking that it be legislatively mandated . You may remember in August of 2001, we submitted to the United States Postal Service (USPS) an RFP for a semipostal for childhood cancer. USPS was given the authority to issue semipostals after the first legislatively mandated stamp, the breast cancer stamp (which has raised over $25 million for breast cancer research).

It is clear that the USPS has no intention in the near future to issue a commemorative stamp for childhood cancer, even though thousands of letters were written from families across the country in support of this stamp. Part of the criteria in issuing a commemorative, first-class stamp is to be nationally significant and benefit human welfare. With thousands of letters on the desk of the CSAC from patients, families and caregivers describing the impact and toll of a diagnosis of childhood cancer, very few of which are ever acknowledged, they chose, for reasons unbeknownst to anyone, not to issue an awareness stamp for childhood cancer.

We are therefore, imploring the legislative mandate of a semipostal for childhood cancer. As you are well aware, over 60 percent of children are enrolled in clinical trials the results of which benefit men, women and children. Dr. Sidney Farber of the Dana Farber Institute in Boston, was known for saying "with cancer, the child is the father to the man." Our children are fighting a very brave battle on these trials, paving the way for better therapies with less toxicities and with the best chance for cure.

My Senator, Ted Kennedy, is looking into legislatively mandating this stamp. I ask that you cut/paste any part of this e-mail or write your own and send it to your members of Congress. You can find their e-mail address on the stamp website: www.kidscancerstamp.org. While you're there take a look at the comments from the guestbook from families who have lost their child and ask that this stamp be established in their memory and honor. It's very compelling.

The funding raised by this semipostal will buttress the work of the extraordinary physician/scientists nationwide, who work so hard to secure funding for their research that will one day benefit patients. As I've said before: "...now, it's our turn, our children need our louder voice."