Advocates Extraordinaire

Clara Valverde, one of the Advocates Extraordinaire that P.A.N.D.O.R.A. invited to attend the 8th IACFS Conference with the Sand Castles Awards Scholarship is behind of one of the most creative advocacy efforts in Barcelona, Catalonia. The outstanding and outspoken advocate is the President of Liga SFC, a powerful and very active organization in Barcelona, Catalonia.

 
She and Lidia Monterde, Vice-President of the organization and also a longtime CFS/FM  activist in Spain have joined forces and have become “agents for change” in a country where women are not viewed as powerful, smart and talented. They have also engaged other smaller organizations to band as ONE STRONG VOICE FOR MANY© an effort shared and found in P.A.N.D.O.R.A.’s mission. We salute our sisters and brothers overseas and we proudly stand behind them in their efforts.   

Clara Valverde’s energy, focus, determination and creativity caught the eye of P.A.N.D.O.R.A.’s founder Marla Silverman and an invitation to attend and participate in the Advocates Extraordinaire! Advocacy and Leadership Training presented at the patient conference at the 8th IACFS International Conference was extended to Clara. Unfortunately health issues prevented her from attending the event, but a friendship and a strong bond has emerged between Marla and Clara and consequently between P.A.N.D.O.R.A. and LIGA SFC. 

We know that Clara’s and Lidia’s persistence will shape a whole new awareness in Spain, one that will inevitably bring changes in treatment and accessibility to basic medical care supplemented by expertise medical. We know that justice for persons with neuroendocrineimmune disorders (PwNEIDs) – and specially the ones who are disabled because of these illnesses – in Catalonia and in Spain will prevailed.

Clara has sent us a detailed power point presentation of their efforts so we can share it with the national advocacy movement in the United States. Her efforts are an inspiration to P.A.N.D.O.R.A. and I am sure it will be to you too. The timing to share this presentation with you is perfect as P.A.N.D.O.R.A. will be celebrating and highlighting CFS/FM/GWS/MCS Awareness Month during May 2007. Click here to see this outstanding Advocate Extraordinaire! power point presentation.

Click here for the 2007 Advocates Extraordinaire! Advocacy & Leadership Training flyer and for the Sand Castles Awards information at the IACFS Conference