HOF 2007 Nominees > Legislative
ShareDon Reed
It was on September 10, 1994 that 19 year old Roman Reed sustained a spinal cord injury while playing football at Chabot College in Hayward, resulting in quadriplegia. It was from that day on that his father, Don Reed, became an advocate for his son. However, it was not long before Don became an advocate for all Americans. He quickly learned that there was very little money being allocated to spinal cord injury (SCI) research, the only hope for a better future for his son.
Don convinced his California state legislator, John Dutra, of the need for a State funded program, based on one just enacted in New York. Founding Californians for Cures, he lead this Internet grassroots group to the successful passage of the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act - $1 million a year, for 5 years, for SCI research.
Many trips to the Capitol for face-to-face meetings with legislative aides, and sometimes the legislator, made the difference on whether bills would make it from one committee to the next. Stem cells were first discovered in 1998.
By 2002, Don held in his hands a rat that had once been paralyzed but could walk after embryonic stem cell transplants. This research was accomplished, in part, using funds from the Roman Reed Act. Stem cells were in the news and so was Don. From every medium, Don has persevered: letters to the editor of major newspapers, radio interviews as well as TV spots.
With Don joining forces with then State Senator Debra Ortiz, legislation passed making California the first state to embrace all forms of stem cell research, as well as ban reproductive cloning. Guidelines were established but there would be no funding from the state. Therefore, when Bob Klein performed his miracles and initiated Proposition 71 – the Stem Cell Research for Cures Initiative, Don was on board, 100%, the only mode that he knows.
Gathering signatures, rain or shine and making phone calls, sending e-mails and reaching out to all that would listen, and some that preferred not to, I am sure, Don was responsible for countless signatures, as well as increasing the network of volunteers with his contagious passion for the cause.
Once Proposition 71 was on the ballot, his efforts increased. After passage, Don fought ignorance and malice as he followed the progress of the lawsuits that were filed to stop the $3 billion funding that Proposition 71 promised. With his website, www.stemcellbattles.com, Don has kept his readers up to date on stem cell issues and the progress of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, attending about 85 meetings, missing only a handful.
His current battles include a one-person, state-by-state effort to assist and create awareness of stem cell issues. There is no one more deserving of recognition for their exceptional devotion to passing legislation for research for cures than Don Reed is is. An unsung hero, not just for his son, but also for all of us that will benefit from his labors.