Mr. Don C. Reed 382 Riverside Avenue Fremont, CA 94536

Dear Mr. Reed:

On behalf of the American Paralysis Association (APA) and our Board of Directors, I fully support your efforts to enact Assembly Bill 750, the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill in the state of California.

As a national nonprofit organization, APA’s mission is to encourage and support research to find a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. Since its inception in 1982, APA has established an international role in funding spinal cord research. APA sponsors some of the most promising spinal cord research around the world. It attracts scores of talented scientists and has supported a wide range of vital discoveries.

Now spinal cord research is a critical point. As progress toward finding a cure accelerates, so does the need for research dollars. Our fundamental challenge is to keep pace. There are hundreds of thousands of spinal cord injured individuals worldwide, with 11,000 new injuries reported each year in this country alone. Approximately 37% of these injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. The long-term commitment to funding basic science is the key to a cure.

As you may know, a similar bill was passed in New York last year which is expected to raised nearly $9 million annually for the leading investigators at various state facilities. We commend your tireless efforts and support your organization’s attempt to facilitate legislation in the California State Assembly.

Sincerely,

Christopher Reeve