We showed this new video at this year's “Golf For A Cure” tournament, but it is one we've been working on for general SMA awareness for some time. We wanted to approach explaining SMA from a slightly new way, do something a little different, and we hope that it has an impact. That's the point. We know our messaging is blunt, brutal — just like this disease. And we get that it's not what everyone wants to hear.But from the time of Gwendolyn's diagnosis, we have felt that it is necessary. Our goal has always been to reach new people. That is our hope in all that we do with GSF. To make those who have never heard of SMA stop, take notice, and feel empowered to help change the current reality of this awful disease. At our core, we believe that knowledge brings change.
Our messaging has always been direct. And it has always been from the perspective of our experience with Gwendolyn. It's what we know. As we look back on our very first PetitionToCureSMA.com video, on our second, and on the Be Part of a Miracle video we made for the Chase contest, our approach hasn't changed that much. Sure, we've become more polished. But our message has always been that SMA is a terrible disease, is cruel, is fatal, but with broad collective efforts can one day be cured. It's what we believe. And it's what we believe will help change the future of SMA. We have been enormously flattered to see other nonprofits, a few even outside of SMA, replicate and borrow what we have done — our language, our style, our messaging. That's great. That means it resonates. That means it is making people stop, take notice, want to be involved. And that is the point.
Because this is SMA. SMA is happening right now. SMA is happening every day. To loving, devoted families. And it is devastating. But research has never been as close as it is today. That is a fact. And there is something we can ALL do NOW — continue building on the stepping stones built over the last 20+ years and get involved to bring an end to SMA.
So please, help us continue reaching new people. Blog, post on Facebook, tweet, whatever it is you always do to help. Together we can end SMA!
This is SMA.