Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures Airs Television Ads to Support Signature Effort

Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures Airs Television Ads to Support Signature Effort

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures today began a television advertising campaign to support the signature gathering effort required to place the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative on the state ballot. Earlier in the week, the Missouri Secretary of State approved the Initiative, providing approval for the signature gathering process to begin. The Coalition needs to gather about 150,000 voter signatures by early May to place the measure on the November 2006 statewide ballot.

The Stem Cell Initiative protects the right of Missouri patients to have their diseases and injuries treated with any federally-approved stem cell cures and ensures that Missouri medical institutions can conduct any stem cell research allowed under federal law. It also creates clear ethical and oversight guidelines for stem cell research conducted in Missouri -- including a strict ban on any attempt to clone a human being.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, whose members include dozens of state and national patient groups and medical organizations, began airing two TV spots on Friday, November 18, 2005. One features former Sen. John Danforth, an Honorary Co-Chair of the Coalition and Episcopal Minister. The other provides an overview of the Stem Cell Initiative. Both spots can be viewed online by visiting the Coalition website at http://www.missouricures.com/ .

In his 30-second spot, Sen. Danforth explains why he supports the Initiative, based on his pro-life views and voting record. "My entire political career I voted pro-life, and that is exactly why I favor the Stem Cell Initiative," Danforth says. "I believe in saving human life. I want cures to be found, and I want the scientists, the physicians, who are here in our state of Missouri to participate in finding these cures. Please join me in supporting the Stem Cell Initiative."

The second Coalition TV spot explains why the Initiative is needed and what it does, and notes that it is supported by many major patient and medical organizations including the American Diabetes Association, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, the Parkinson's Action Network, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City and Washington University in St. Louis. The visuals in the ad include photos and words on screen to illustrate points made by an announcer in a voiceover which says:

"Stem cells could provide cures for diseases and injuries that afflict
millions of people, including diabetes, Parkinson's, ALS, cancer, heart
disease and spinal cord injury. But some politicians in Jefferson City
want to ban important types of stem cell research and cures in Missouri
and make lifesaving stem cell research a crime in our state.

The Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative was developed to make
sure that won't happen. This voter referendum measure will ensure that
Missouri patients have access to any stem cell cures that are allowed
under federal law. It will ensure that our medical institutions can
provide and help develop those cures. And, it resolves the cloning issue
by banning any attempt to clone a human being. The Initiative is
supported by a broad coalition of medical and patient groups, and people
from all walks of life.

You can help by signing our petitions to let Missourians vote on this
important measure. For more information, please contact the Missouri
Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. Thank you."

Donn Rubin, Chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, said the group plans to run ads statewide for several weeks to help kick off the signature gathering effort and provide voters with basic information about the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.

Contact:
Connie Farrow
(314) 968-2600

Bill Musgrave
(816) 931-7417

Source: Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

CONTACT: Connie Farrow, +1-314-968-2600, or, Bill Musgrave,
+1-816-931-7417, both for Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

Web site: http://www.missouricures.com/

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