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LEARN HOW TO MAKE OUR TYPE LARGER

Join the "Alzheimer's Stamp" petition movement
Published September/October 2001

(Jupiter, FL) - More than four million people in the US have Alzheimer's disease and an additional 19 million are affected as caregivers. The only obstacles between us and a cure are funding and awareness. "What we need is an 'Alzheimer's Postage Stamp'," says Kathy Siggins, whose husband, Gene, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1990. Ms. Siggins of Frederick, Maryland, and Ageless Design, Inc., a Florida-based senior service organization, have created a way for people around the country to help promote awareness of Alzheimer's and raise funds for research by petitioning the US Postal Service for an "Alzheimer's Research" stamp. To support this drive people can go to www.agelessdesign.com/alz-stamp.htm

Not long ago, Ms. Siggins heard of a project to raise funds for research through the issuance of a US postage stamp. Realizing that right now Alzheimer's touches the lives of more than 23 million Americans, she decided that the scale of this disease warranted such an initiative. The need for further action is particularly pressing as projections indicate that, unless we find a cure, the number of people with Alzheimer's in the US will grow from four to 14 million by the year 2050.

From her home base in Maryland, Ms. Siggins reached out to local Alzheimer's organizations to help her gather support for this cause. She quickly discovered, however, that it would take more to persuade the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee. It would require petitions, a lot of petitions, signed by hundreds of thousands of people. The project recently came to the attention of Mark Warner (author of The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home) and Ellen Warner, President of Ageless Design. They decided to create a special website to collect names for a petition seeking US Postal Service approval of an "Alzheimer's Research" postage stamp. "As soon as we learned about Kathy's idea for a stamp, our organization realized it was a powerful way to bring attention to the predicaments faced by so many families torn apart by Alzheimer's disease, "explained Ms. Warner. "We are well on our way to achieving our goal," says Ms. Warner. "The site has only been up for one week and we are quickly approaching the 1000 mark."

Ageless Design is also collecting testimonial statements offered by signers of the petition, representing the human toll of Alzheimer's disease. Ms. Siggins plans to bring these stories with her when she presents the petitions to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee hearing in Fall, 2001. The following are but a few comments already submitted: "I am a caregiver of a grandmother with Alzheimer's Disease. The disease runs in both sides of my family. I live in fear and in hope. Fear that I may some day be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and hope that some day there will be a cure." "The stamp would be reminder to all Americans the battle we face and how many people are affected by this terrible disease." "Let's all work together to find a cure to 'stamp' out Alzheimer's disease." "I believe that we as a nation need to do anything and everything to support research to cure this horrible disease. One of the ways to do this is to put it in front of as many people as possible. I cannot think of a better way than through stamps, which many, many people see every day. I supported and purchased the stamps for breast cancer. Please do not let this drop." "Until your life is affected by this disease, you cannot imagine the suffering it causes. Not only the individual having the disease is affected, but also family and friends. This is not a short term disease with the hope of a possible cure - it is a steady downhill trend with no hope. Everyone needs to be reminded that this disease is very real and could strike you or a loved one any day. I strongly support the issue of a stamp recognizing this disease and urging research toward its treatment and cure." "Alzheimer's is devastating to both the victim and the caregiver. The most heartbreaking days of all are those when in a period of lucidity your loved one realizes with horror what is happening to them; there is no sufficient comfort you can give them when they realize they are no longer the competent person they have always been."

Visiting the "Alzheimer's Research" postage stamp website, signing the petition and adding your comment is easy for anyone with access to the Internet. It takes very little time and can be done from home computers or computers at local libraries and community support centers. After reaching www.agelessdesign.com/alz-stamp.htm petition signers need only spend a minute or two reviewing the petition and signing their name. If anyone needs any help they are also welcome to email Ellen Warner at ewarner@agelessdesign.com.or call her at (561) 745-0210.

Press release courtesy of "Ageless Design"

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