Dear SAA Members & Friends,

Have you ever wanted to make a positive change in the lives of others? It is my great pleasure to tell you that you have. This year the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) enjoyed an unprecedented series of successes that improved the lives of the community we serve -- all of which were made possible in no small measure by your continuing leadership, commitment and generosity. On their behalf, I offer you my profound thanks.

But there's still so much to do. Our dream is to find a cure; to put an end to the pain and suffering inflicted on so many by this condition. This is the mission of our organization, and our commitment to you.

This past year, we've made extensive progress toward this goal. SAA, with the help of its members and friends, has often been credited with 'igniting' spondylitis research. Research conducted in cooperation with SAA has resulted in significant progress towards understanding the root causes of the disease. It was announced in late 2007 that researchers, including Dr. John Reveille, identified two additional genes that bring us ever closer to fully explaining why someone is susceptible to spondylitis. More recently, this study identified additional genes that will provide potential new targets for treatment as well as new diagnostic tests that will aid in earlier diagnoses.

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These achievements offer hope to each and every person whose life has been touched by spondylitis. Your support of SAA directly contributed to the successful outcome of this important research. None of it could have happened without the participation and support of SAA members; people like you who made this organization possible, and without whom neither the organization nor the research results would exist.

The research successes have brought us closer to our dream, but we can't stop now. There is much work to be done before the cure is within our reach. Some would argue that the cure, when it comes, will be too late -- too late for many who are fully engulfed in the advanced stages of the disease. Let me tell you why I disagree.

While it is true that a cure will not likely reverse the effects for those in its advanced stages, we also know that even if the cure does not reverse the damage done to our generation, it is not too late for the next. This disease is genetic is nature. You know that your children, your grandchildren, and their children are all at risk. Maybe you already have loved ones that have been diagnosed. We must not fail them.

We have a plan; but we need you to make it work. First, pursue the cure; relentlessly, for as long as it takes, until we reach the goal. Second, recognizing that the first part will be neither quick nor easy, we must work diligently to improve the lives of spondylitis sufferers everywhere.

We have partnered with the top researchers, including Dr. John Reveille and many members of SAA's Scientific and Medical Advisory Board as well as various industry and government sponsors, to continue the fight to expand our knowledge of the disease to a point where a cure will be found. We are not there yet, but we are determined to get there.

In the meantime, we are working hard to improve the lives of the people suffering here and now. Research indicates that spondylitis is much more common than previously believed. As many as three million people here in the United States suffer from this disease. And as you well know, a great many are suffering unnecessarily due to delayed and mis-diagnosis.

SAA provides essential information to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnoses and assists with better management of the disease once it is identified. Our programs educate and inform physicians and patients through continuing education programs for doctors as well as educational programs, publications, webinars and podcasts for patients and their loved ones.

Your contributions and membership fees have made all of this possible. But we must do more. We believe that, with all the significant work that has been done, we have as yet reached only a fraction of the audience that desperately needs the information and support that we alone can provide. I believe that tonight, across this country, there are hundreds of thousands of people who will go to bed suffering needlessly from chronic pain they cannot escape borne of a disease their doctors do not understand. We must reach them. There is no one else who can.

The task ahead of us is daunting. But we are not daunted. We will continue to operate with an uncompromising certainty that we will win.

But, we need your help. To reach those who need us, and to continue to lead the march toward the cure, we need your support. I know that you have given generously in the past; the many successes thus far are a testament to your caring and strength of will. I hope I can count on you to help us build upon the successes of 2008 in order to ensure we achieve the tremendous gains we plan for 2009. The cure is now tantalizingly close, and we must not relent -- especially because of our children, and their children. They depend on us, and we depend on you.

Please give as generously as you can.

Sincerely,

Laurie M. Savage
Executive Director

P.S. You can make your gift go even further by joining our monthly giving program. As a SMART Giver, your dependable, monthly gift will be put to work throughout the year to change lives and hasten the cure. Plus you'll help save printing and postage costs for SAA. My deepest thanks.

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