Congressional Black Caucus to Campaign for Increased Funding for Sickle Cell Disease Research.

Business Editors & Health Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2001

Announcement Coincides With National Television

Documentary That Places Disease on Public Agenda

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) today announced its plans to campaign for

increased funding for sickle cell disease research. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects people of all races and cultures worldwide. In the United States, sickle cell disease primarily affects African Americans and Hispanics. One in 500 African Americans, or more than 80,000 blacks, suffer from sickle cell, and more than two million are healthy carriers of the gene that causes the disease.

Advocating efforts to find a cure, Congresswomen Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI) and Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) showed highlights of "Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease," at a Cannon House Office Building press conference today. The one-hour television program, produced by The Dr. Spock Company, will air nationwide on the Discovery Health Channel on February 28 at 10 pm ET.

"Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease" is the premier television production of The Dr. Spock Company, the leading parenting media company. "This documentary is the first example of The Dr. Spock Company's ability to provide expert information and advice on the health and development of children through multiple media channels," said Doug Lee, president and CEO of The Dr. Spock Company. "In addition to our television productions, we also deliver our content through books and a comprehensive website."

"`Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease' is a compelling personal drama of families and researchers trying to overcome the scientific and political hurdles that make fighting this disease so daunting. The documentary also underscores one of the main missions of our company - to highlight important public health problems and to bring the most up-to-date information to parents," said George Strait, senior vice president of media at The Dr. Spock Company and longtime medical journalist who supervised the documentary's production.

"We must do more to combat this disease that causes so much pain and death among our people," said Congresswoman McKinney at the press conference.

"Together with The Dr. Spock Company, we are helping our communities' children by educating parents about sickle cell disease," added Congresswoman Christian-Christensen, who chairs the CBC Health Braintrust. "Through both government and consumer-awareness programs, we hope to better understand and decrease the incidence of the disease in children."

"The Dr. Spock Company is built on the philosophies of my late husband, Dr. Benjamin Spock," said Mary Morgan, co-founder and vice president of publishing of The Dr. Spock Company.

"Dr. Spock would be very proud to know that his work is now reaching a whole new generation of parents with trusted and timely advice. Our hope is that this documentary, in conjunction with the CBC's legislative efforts, will expand knowledge of the disease and speed the search for a cure," added Morgan.

About The Congressional Black Caucus

In January 1969, newly elected African American representatives of the 77th Congress joined six incumbents to form the "Democratic Select Committee." The Committee was renamed the Congressional Black Caucus and the CBC was born in 1971. Their goals were to positively influence the course of events pertinent to African Americans and others of similar experience and situation, and to achieve greater equity for persons of African descent in the design and content of domestic and international programs and services. While the CBC has been primarily focused on the concerns of African Americans, the Caucus has also been at the forefront of legislative campaigns for human and civil rights for all citizens.

About The Dr. Spock Company

The Dr. Spock Company is the trusted source for the latest expert advice, information, and inspiration on raising happy, healthy children. The company blends the timeless philosophies of world-renowned pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock with up-to-date parenting information from leading authorities in parenting and children's health, delivering its expert information via print, broadcast, and online media. The Dr. Spock Company is backed by Zesiger Capital Group and CNC Partners, and is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif.