RSD Hope-Help Target TV Shows

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From: byrd45 (Original Message) Sent: 2/9/2005 11:16 AM

I am going to be posting this each month for anyone who is interested in this awareness program through RSDhope. I just got done sending mine and I hope some people in here might want to too. Entirely up to you,so here is the info!



Hello Everyone!

Welcome to our newbies! Another 120 people added since December to our email distribution list

Everyone is always looking for a way to help spread awareness, here we go!

This is our second month targeting a TV Show to get someone to dedicate an entire show to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. We, along with many many other RSD groups have been trying to get a show for quite a few years now, without much luck. We are trying to be a little more methodical about it this time around.

You would think that talking about a disease that affects millions of men, women, and children with a pain greater than any other would be enough to grab their attention. Apparently not. No problem, we will approach it differently.

While talking about this dilemma to a TV reporter last week, when we were filming a spot for the local news on the new bracelets, he suggested that could be our ticket ... the new RSD Awareness Bracelet.

He said when I contacted their office about doing a spot on RSD and told them that American RSDHope was celebrating our tenth Anniversary this year and we have introduced the RSD Awareness Bracelets to raise funding and awareness for our disease, they jumped on it. The bracelets are all the rage now so maybe it will help us get our foot in the door.

So we decided to target one show each month. Last months show was Montel Williams. This months show is Dr Phil.

What we are asking everyone to do is to go to his website and fill out the "Tell us your story" form they have there and do exactly that, tell your story of RSD, struggles, highpoints, low points, etc. Not too long or it won't get read.

Also, we would like everyone to include the following, you don't have to, it would just help our cause if we hit some of the same notes over and over, letter after letter. That way they keep hearing the same points and maybe that will say to them, "Hmm, maybe there is something here!"

1) Share the website with them so they have a place to go for more information ( www.RSDHope.org ) if you want feel free to mention it is our 10 year anniversary, the 4.8 Million hits to the website, etc. Some of these producers like numbers. Anything to grab their eye.

2) Talk about the new RSD Awareness Bracelet. Why we want people to wear them, why it is important to raise awareness in the public, that the profits from the sale of these bracelets goes directly into our research fund, that wearing them generates questions about our disease. Maybe share who you have given them to and why.

3) Be sure to include your contact information

4) If you wish, you can talk about how RSDHope has helped you and/or your loved ones, maybe even your Dr.

5) Talk about how you personally deal with constant pain in your life. Are there things you have learned to do that since you first had it, that make it easier to deal with? What would you like to share with the newly diagnosed that would help them get through the first year or two?

Think about his show; what types of people are on it, what types of stories they share, what really connects the people on the show to the people watching, etc.

Here is the link to his site, just copy and paste it into your browser.
http://www.drphil.com/email/email_landing.jhtml

You can also go to a section they have on their site for discussion groups. Maybe we could get one going on RSD/Disability! I started one today, add your message to it and let's make it the busiest one on their site.

http://boards.drphil.com/WebX?14@@.ef45790!DYNID=41OA4QSIVCOKDLARAYIR3KQ

You will have to register with the site first to participate in the discussion groups.

Remember, we want to tug at their heart strings while at the same time offering them some possible show ideas;

1) Raising awareness with the bracelets
2) Helping people cope with Chronic Pain
3) Helping the public to understand what it is like to deal with chronic pain everyday
4) How many times "invisible diseases" like RSD cannot be judged based on how the patient looks at any given time
5) The need for serious health-care reform when it comes to dealing with those in chronic pain

and any others you think of.

Save your story as we will do one show each month.

We appreciate your help very much, let's raise awareness together!

Peace and freedom from pain, Keith

American RSDHope
www.RSDHope.org