The year began with changes in staffing at NFRA and many new beginnings. Shanda Shribbs, who has worked at NFRA for more than three years, became Executive Director in February after the previous director moved on. Shanda’s position as Research Associate was filled by Norm Reiss. Margie Talley came on board as our accounting clerk.

Physician Education
NFRA received its first ever grant from a pharmaceutical company this year. In fact, we received two! Eli Lilly provided our first CME certified program for medical professionals at PAINWeek 2007 in September. Dr. Patrick Wood and Dr. Andrew Holman presented four hours of information on where the current research and treatments are in fibromyalgia. Over 130 medical professionals attended some or all of the training. We’re pleased to have been able to provide quality education.

The second grant from Lilly is funding a 32-page white paper on Fibromyalgia. We are working with partners to create and disseminate the paper. The team includes Aventine Company, a medical education firm, and Medical Education Collaboratives, a CME provider. The paper is in process as we end the year, and will be provided to at least 10,000 medical professionals in the first half of 2008. We’re especially pleased with the partnerships we are forming. These partnerships allow us to remain small, and yet make a positive impact for fibromyalgia patients.

This year saw the first listing by the FDA of a medication for the treatment of fibromyalgia. The listing of Lyrica (pregabalin) provides an opportunity for many medical professionals to catch up on their knowledge in fibromyalgia. For NFRA, it provided the opportunity for us to update our physician education materials. We’ve taken a huge step in providing useful information for physicians by including research references with our physician materials. It makes it that much easier for medical professionals to get the information they need.

We exhibited and handed out educational materials at seven medical conferences this year:

• American Academy of Pain Medicine
• American Academy of Neurological Surgeons
• American Pain Society
• Associated Professional Sleep Societies
• American Society of Pain Educators
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• Pain Society of Oregon

In addition, we attended MYOPAIN (World Congress on Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia) and the Society for Neuroscience meetings to seek new information and researchers.

Awareness
Updating our materials has led us to a new look for our educational pieces and our letterhead. The educational pieces now feature a shadowed woman’s face. We’re planning changes to our letterhead soon.

A patient in Texas arranged for new radio public service announcements to be recorded for us by her husband, a professional radio announcer. We’re now beginning an outreach to many of our supporters around the country to have the PSAs played on their local stations. It is an easy way for even patients with limited energy to help get out the fibromyalgia message.

Our awareness activities have continued to look nationally and internationally. Through our association with racquetball, we’ve continued to provide awareness and education at tournaments throughout the US and into Latin America. Our website, bracelets and pins spread the word about fibromyalgia.

Fundraising
Non-profit bingo has finally run its course and we terminated our activities at the end of August 2007. It was a wonderful opportunity for many years, but after suffering for several months with increasing staffing problems and decreasing sales, we determined the best answer was to discontinue. Now we have a new opportunity to gain additional awareness out of our fundraising activities. We’ve been blessed this year with several fibromyalgia patients around the US who have sponsored events as fundraisers for NFRA. In Florida, a “Pie a Phi” event, and in Atlanta, a costume ball at the end of a special art gallery showing, were fundraisers for NFRA. Each of these activities also helped to educate many about the challenge that is fibromyalgia.

We saw an increase in activity at our site on www.GoodSearch.com. However, it is still not living up to its potential. By going there each time you need to complete an internet search and indicating you wish to search for NFRA, you can add a penny to our coffers. Think of it, if every time you went on the internet you started at Goodsearch, and if you asked all your friends and families to do the same…..it can build to a very worthwhile amount. Now, you can also visit Goodsearch.com and shop on-line with NFRA receiving a portion of your purchase. Check it out. These are simple and effective ways you can help raise funds to support our education and research activities.

Research
The University of Washington is still preparing for publication of the research we participated in funding in 2006. The funds we currently have for research are very limited; as we work to increase them, we continue to monitor research activities to look for worthy projects.

It is an exciting time in the science of fibromyalgia. Every month new research is reported that better defines this complex syndrome. Treatment is improving and healthcare practitioners are responding by increasing their own knowledge. As we reflect at the end of the year, we have much to be thankful for: the generosity and guidance we receive from NFRA’s founder, Jack Scott; the education and support we receive from patients, other advocates and medical professionals and scientists; the donations we receive from so many in memory of loved ones or just because they want to support our work. Thank you all, and Happy New Year!