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Waikato Activities Winter in Palmerston North

Waikato's recent movie fund-raiser went What's a support group to do when it's a Palmerston North
well, with organiser, Linda Bell reporting winter? Why, get inside out of the cold, crack a good vintage
67 people, mostly family and friends and and enjoy each others company. Which is exactly what they
some Scleroderma members attending. did!
They raised $800 for Scleroderma NZ.

Their monthly coffee group is going at
Westfield Shopping Mall, Chartwell at the
Robert Harris Café. Birthdays of group
members are an excuse for a nice lunch.

The Waikato seminar this year will be on Saturday, 5th of
November at the same venue: St Johns Methodist Church
Hall Hamilton East. More information plus presenters will be
provided in a couple months time.

Please also help support Scleroderma NZ by either calling
into Target Furniture, Hamilton which is selling Entertainment
Books either in store at Te Rapa Road, Hamilton or online
please click on your area: www.entbook.co.nz/935q727

For any more information on the above please contact me on
Ph 07 8535434 or email linda.bell@hotmail.co.nz

US Scleroderma Advocacy
Summit

Scleroderma patient advocates from across the US get a face-
to-face with Senators and Representatives in mid-September.
It's their chance to try to convince lawmakers to support a
new law that would:

• Create a commission of leading scientific experts to work
together a draft a comprehensive long-range plan for
systematic research in this area.

• Establish a working group to implement the research plan
and coordinate research activities.

• End the millions of deaths each year attributed to chronic
fibroproliferative illness.

So far they have the support of both Democrats and
Republicans. It is budget neutral - the bill will not increase
federal spending. Advocates are after numbers now to get
the bill before Congress ahead of all other advocates, each of
whom lobbies for their own field of interest.

They get time in 15 congressional offices on the day

www.scleroderma.org.nz