March is Endometriosis Awareness Month! Fundraising & Awareness Initiatives You Can Support

The Endometriosis Research Center is pleased to once again celebrate Endometriosis Awareness Month and the ERC's 9th Anniversary! The organization is gearing up to launch various activities and fundraisers throughout the month of March and beyond. All proceeds are directly received by the ERC and are used solely for the development and maintenance of the ERC's programs. The ERC is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible organization solely supported by fundraising initiatives and the donations of those who share the ERC's goal of supporting those with Endometriosis and of one day finding a cure. Get involved!

This year, the ERC is Cooking for the Cure! The organization is extremely excited to present their very own cookbook, "Down Home Cooking with Endo Sisters." This cookbook was made possible with recipe contributions from the ERC's Angel Network and contains fun and comforting recipes. Ordering will start soon and proceeds will benefit the ERC's education and support programs. See http://www.endocenter.org for details.

In additional fundraising efforts, the ERC is also offering a brand new, limited design in their T-shirt collection! The new design, only $9.99 in celebration of the ERC's 9th year, is a custom shirt that will only be offered at this low price for a short time and then will be retired. Celebrate March in style! Buy one for yourself or support an Endofriend in need. See the ERC Angel Shop at http://www.cafepress.com/erc_endoangels.

Stop by http://www.cafepress.com/erc, the original ERC store. Did you know they've been offering Endometriosis awareness items for years? T-shirts, mugs, hats, mouse pads, bags, magnets, calendars, postcards, greeting cards, license plate frames, and so much more. They even offer the exclusive, one-of-a-kind ERC Angel postage stamp! Stop by today to choose an item or two from the Endo Awareness store.

The ERC's GirlTalk store is full of specially-designed items for those in the GirlTalk program and their loved ones. Stop by today to check out the GirlTalk branded apparel and other items to help raise awareness on behalf of the daughters of today - so the daughters of tomorrow won't have to suffer. See http://www.cafepress.com/ercgirltalk for details.

Additional awareness initiatives for March include:

Center for Endometriosis Care and Endometriosis Research Center Collaboration - the ERC is delighted to team up with the Center for Endometriosis Care this year in celebration of Awareness Month 2006. The Center for Endometriosis Care is an internationally renowned specialty surgery center with headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Formed in 1991, the CEC successfully treats Endometriosis in patients from around the world utilizing the advanced method of laparoscopic excision. The CEC also provides surgical preceptorships and performs credentialing for qualified gynecologic surgeons from all countries, in order to promote the effective treatment of the disease. Additionally, the CEC maintains the world's largest database studying the long-term success of excision. To honor all those with Endometriosis and help celebrate Awareness Month, the ERC and the CEC have paired up to present a free comprehensive packet on the disease. Included is information on Endometriosis, treatment options, details on obtaining a free records evaluation and treatment recommendations from the CEC, helpful resources, and much, much more. If you are interested in obtaining the CEC/ERC Awareness Presentation, please call (866) 733-5540 beginning in March to request your free copy.

ERC Adopt a Doctor Program: this easy program entails the mailing of (or otherwise delivering) the ERC's "Adopt a Doctor" package to various physicians and healthcare providers, including those in care centers and hospital settings in your area. Doing so helps to raise awareness about "Endometriosis Awareness Month," the ERC's various programs, and of course - most importantly - the Endometriosis patient! Please download and print your free campaign materials and get them out to those in your community. Make additional copies as needed! http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/Adopt%20A%20Doctor%202006.pdf

ERC Screening & Education Kit: The ERC is pleased to once again present their Screening & Education Kit, updated for 2006. Originally developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women's Health in celebration of National Women's Health Week, the Kit was designed to empower women and girls living with Endometriosis by helping them to better understand the disease and live well with - and in spite of! - Endometriosis. Included in this informative package is an Endometriosis Self-Test, the ERC's "Endometriosis: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions" presentation, an Endometriosis Pain Journal, which will enable you to effectively track and monitor your symptoms and share them with your doctor, and resources on how and where to Get the Help You Need. http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/2006ScreeningEducationKit.pdf

ERC Legislative Awareness Campaign: the ERC was the first Endometriosis advocacy organization in the country to undertake the important task of raising awareness among policymakers. The ERC is nationally renowned for pioneering efforts and successes in the Legislative arenas, helping to raise recognition about issues pertinent to Endometriosis education and research at the governmental level. It is the foundation's belief that no one with this disease should suffer in silence, and they continue to strongly advocate for early intervention, timely diagnosis and efficacy of treatment. Please see http://www.endocenter.org/legislative%20news.htm to read about accomplishments in passing legislation officially recognizing this disease and learn how to get involved in passing local legislation in your state.

About the ERC:

The Endometriosis Research Center is an established 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible organization that was founded by Executive Director Michelle Marvel in order to address the growing International need for Endometriosis research, education, awareness and support. The ERC is unique in that unlike similar organizations, there is no fee to join, participate in or benefit from the ERC's programs. There is no other organization offering free Endometriosis support and information to the lay and professional communities concerning this disease. With world headquarters located in South Florida, USA, the organization is pleased to host a virtual network of staff and volunteers around the world who help implement the ERC's various programs in the online and local communities on a global basis.

The ERC maintains and offers a vast database of accurate materials on every aspect of Endometriosis to practitioners, researchers, patients of all ages, and all those interested in the disease. In addition, the ERC assists medical industry leaders with developmental studies and data collection on the disease; lobbies the National Institutes of Health and similar foundations in support of various research grants; and so much more. The ERC has collaborated on several books, publications and videos pertaining to the disease over the years, as well working with the extended media to bring education and awareness to the forefront of society. Additionally, the ERC was pleased to host the Internet's first Endometriosis educational webcast during their Symposium and workshops held at the ERC Conference in Washington, DC.

The ERC has the privilege of working with leaders in the ongoing study and treatment of the disease. An Executive Board of Directors and a Medical & Professional Advisory Panel consisting of pioneers in Endometriosis research and treatment govern all ERC programs and operations. The organization is also implementing a unique program for Professionals only, which is designed to encourage global collaboration on, and advance the study and treatment of, all aspects of Endometriosis for researchers, physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals from all over the world. The ERC also seeks to further define Endometriosis epidemiology by working with governing bodies to establish a formal disease registry.

On the clinical front, the ERC is actively involved in ongoing disease research, ranging from recruitment for clinical trials on proprietary new treatments to participation in genetic research studies for various biotech companies focused on the discovery of novel therapeutics and diagnostics to address significant unmet medical needs in Endometriosis. They were also involved in the A-Fem Medical pilot study conducted to validate the world's first self-collection kit and testing method to attempt to provide a screening system for Endometriosis. The preliminary results were promising, particularly for undiagnosed women and adolescents, and this novel work has now become an area of focus for the global biotech community. The ERC has also previously conducted a study into a potential relationship between the use of Menstrual Cup devices and Endometriosis, in association with the esteemed President of Associated Pharmacologists & Toxicologists and Author of the prestigious ReproTox Database. Theirs was the first organization to also perform a large product focus study involving the first unique, all-natural topical product designed specifically for menstrual cramping. They have also previously conducted a study of medical professionals in collaboration with Agile Therapeutics, using data collection and analysis to determine the formation of a birth control patch compound. Other collaborations include Amgen Praecis Corporation; EmerGEN; Neurocrine Bioscience; FemmePharma; the International OxeGENE Study Group; the National Women's Health Information Center; The Office on Women's Health/U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Helica TC Corporation; Zonagen Corporation; and many more.

The ERC investigates controversial issues in Endometriosis research to ensure that all facets of the disease are adequately addressed; in some instances, even publicly challenging popular study conclusions. For example, they refuted Yale University's "Sexual Activity, Orgasm & Tampon Use are Associated with a Decreased Risk of Endometriosis" report in the Journal of Gynecologic & Obstetric Investigation, citing extensive evidence as to why this theory was flawed; more recently, they publicly confronted an "Expert Panel Consensus Report" in the Journal of Fertility & Sterility advocating the use of pre-diagnostic GnRH drugs. ERC position on these matters can be viewed online at http://endocenter.org/endostudy.htm and http://endocenter.org/pdf/PreDiagnosisGnRH.pdf, respectively.

The ERC is a leader in Endometriosis awareness initiatives. The ERC raises awareness and provides education about Endometriosis not only to patient and medical communities through free Symposiums, meetings and materials, but on State and Federal levels as well. For example, they have testified before the California State Legislature at the invitation of Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza on behalf of Assembly Bill 2820, a crucial health bill calling for independent research into the presence of dioxins in feminine hygiene products and the subsequent risks these toxins pose to women and their children. AB 2820 was approved by majority vote and passed on to the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. The organization has also been very successful over the years in working with concerned legislators and policymakers to establish Resolutions formally recognizing the need for disease awareness throughout society. To that end, the states of New York, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, California and Pennsylvania have all passed Resolutions officially recognizing the Month of March as "Endometriosis Awareness Month." The most gratifying success, however, came when the 107th Congress of the United States unanimously passed our country's first-ever national legislation, House Concurrent Resolution 291. Introduced on behalf of the ERC by Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon and supported by numerous Co-sponsors, H.Con.Res.291 formally proclaimed March as National Endometriosis Awareness Month. H.Con.Res.291 also expresses the sense of the United States Congress that it "strongly supports the ERC's efforts to raise public awareness of Endometriosis throughout the medical and lay communities and recognizes the need for better support of patients with Endometriosis, the need for physicians to better understand the disease, the need for more effective treatments, and ultimately, the need for a cure."

In addition to research facilitation and patient education programs, ERC also offers a vast support network for those with the disease and their loved ones. The ERC is pleased to host nearly 50 active, in-person support groups worldwide, and is the owner of the Internet's largest electronic Endometriosis support group, with nearly 3,000 participants from around the globe. In honor of young women with Endometriosis ages 25 and under, the ERC also offers the "Girl Talk" Program, a specific support and education program tailored to meet the needs of young women and adolescents who have, or think they may have, the disease. In addition to providing patient advocacy and education, Girl Talk raises awareness about Endometriosis and strives to improve patient care among practitioners offering healthcare services to young women. They were also the first Endometriosis organization to offer specifically tailored materials to the under-addressed community of lesbians with Endometriosis, through their acclaimed "Women 2 Woman" program.

The ERC enjoys collaborative relationships with similar like-minded foundations, including the National Endometriosis Society (United Kingdom), Associazione Italiana Endometriosi (Italy), Endometriosis.org (Denmark), the Endometriosis SHE Trust (United Kingdom), the Endometriosis Care Centre of Australia (ECCA), and RESOLVE, a national infertility organization. Additionally, the ERC is represented in the World Endometriosis Society, the National Pain Foundation, and the American Chronic Pain Association. The ERC is also a Founding Partner in the Society for Women's Health Research, a collaboration sponsored by the Alliance for Women in Clinical Research, and a member of the Primate Freedom Project's "Moratorium on Primate Research." The Guidestar Foundation, a Federal charity watchdog organization, formally recognizes the organization as a member in good standing.

The Endometriosis Research Center is open to all those concerned with Endometriosis: medical professionals, researchers, women of all ages with Endometriosis, and anyone interested in the disease. It is the ERC's goal to make a positive difference in the lives of the millions suffering from this disease. Please consider helping the ERC help others by supporting the organization's worthy efforts today!

Contact the ERC:
Endometriosis Research Center
an International 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible organization
World Headquarters: 630 Ibis Drive | Delray Beach, FL 33444 | USA
Direct Email: EndoFL@aol.com | Internet: http://www.endocenter.org/
Phone: (800) 239-7280 | Fax: (561) 274-0931

The Endometriosis Research Center & Women's Hospital is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-435-7352 toll-free within the State of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State. Registration #SC-07844. Donations are received 100% by the ERC.