Cure JM's New Discussion Board

We are all saddened by Jim's circumstances and his post that he will need to close down his website once he is no longer able to manage it due to his declining health.

So that the juvenile myositis community will still have a place to communicate, Cure JM Foundation has set up a special discussion board on our website at www.curejm.org. You can register and post by selecting the "Message Board" option from the home page.

The directors of Cure JM have made some posts to get you started and to welcome you to our new home and I have provided a link below to help you as well.

I want to tell you a story.

In 2003 when Cure JM was formed, by Shari Hume, Lisa Felix (Amanda's mother) and myself, we started from scratch with no money and a big dream. We got an attorney and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation and set up a website. We didn't know what would happen but had high hopes. We wanted to do something to help find a Cure for JM.

In less than five years the JM community has rallied behind us and a wonderful group of JDM parents and grandparents have joined our Board of Directors. With their and your help, Cure JM has been able to grant almost $ 2 million for JDM research, including $ 1 million to Dr. Pachman's JDM Research Center in Chicago, and the formation of a JDM Clinic and Research Center at GWU in Washington, D.C.

Part of our success has been made possible because of Jim Kilpatrick who has graciously provided this discussion board for us to communicate with each other and he will be so missed by all of us.

Jim, a member of Cure JM's Advisory Board, is already on our website as a "Cure JM Hero" (See the "Photos" section of our website at www.curejm.org) and we will be adding more information to that about all Jim has accomplished to help all of us. Thank you, Jim! We want to be sure that we and those who are diagnosed in the future remember Jim and his dedication to the myositis cause. He is a part of our history and that will never change.

Jim, you have been a wonderful friend to me over the past 8 years and I want you to know how much that friendship means to me.

Gratefully,

Harriet Bollar
Chairman, Cure JM Foundation