Spring 2009

Dear PLGA Friends and Families:

A few NEW and exciting developments to share with you that will help us raise awareness about PLGA and the struggles we face due to lack of funds for research....

URGENT JPA/PLGA Family Heros Needed (all ages)

We need PLGA families to step forward NOW and share their personal distress about the progression of their child's brain tumor and their distress of the lack of progress for new treatments and a cure.

According to an April 21st news story the director of the National Cancer Institute declares that the NCI will receive 1.3 billion dollars in 2009 and 2010 from the recent federal stimulus package. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity" for the NCI to broaden the study of DNA of brain tumors.

Our goal is to RAISE awareness of PLGA/JPA at the NIH/NCI and sharing your personal story could help 'tip the scales' in FAVOR of major funding for JPA/PLGA research. Our success in influencing this process is predicated on being ready WITH your personal experiences. Please don't wait. Contact Amy Weinstein with your child's story @ 914-762-3494 or email amy@fightplga.org.

Find the PLGA Foundation on Facebook

  At long last, (and well overdue), we have created a PLGA Foundation facebook page for our PLGA families and friends. We encourage you to help spread the word about the foundation and the struggles that our children face because of PLGA. The page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PLGA-Foundation/68888927563?ref=ts (or just type PLGA Foundation into the Facebook search bar).

We hope to use this page as a timely way to keep everyone updated re: new developments, ideas, projects funded and much more! If you have ideas of what you want to see on the space, please let us know! The intent of the Facebook page is to be another source of information for all PLGA families.

Get "Geared Up For Kids"

The PLGA Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the 1st Annual "Geared Up for Kids" Ride and Family Fun Festival on Sunday, May 31st, 2009. Given these tough economic times, now, more than ever, we need NATIONAL support for this event to raise money for PLGA research in 2009/2010.

We are looking for families/friends in the Boston area who would like to ride with us...as well as families from across the country who are interested in helping us raise awareness and funds by becoming a "virtual rider", to join us!

There will be a 10 mile family-friendly route, a 25 mile tougher route and a 50 mile 'whopper' route for the more serious bikers!

Celebrate the ride at the Family Fun Festival, immediately following the ride, with entertainment for the whole family...including moon bounce, face painting, crafts, DJ, balloon artists, caricature artists, clowns, and PLENTY of food!

Please help us spread the word about this event by sharing it with your friends and family. Just go to www.gearedupforkids.org.

Looking forward to a successful spring of SPREADING THE WORD!

Best,

Amy Weinstein
Executive Director, PLGA Foundation
www.fightplga.org

"PLGA Children should fight for their dreams, not for their lives."