Many of you may know, or maybe heard via rumor, there have been some of us in the community that have endeavored to move research regarding quinolone toxicity to new levels. I am pleased to say that there has been some exciting research initiated over the last few years in addition to in-roads being made into the medical research community. Even so, there are daunting challenges ahead of us and a tremendous amount of work to be done. Many folks that I have worked with and corresponded with realized that at some point it would be necessary to start a national non-profit organization to raise funds and direct quinolone research. I (we) believe that time is now.
Having been involved in the FQ community you must have realized by now that the impetus for change that we seek in modern medicine and research must come from within the community. This change will not come from the outside. Recent history is replete with grass root groups that have faced daunting medical issues and have overcome. The FQ community is populated by many intelligence, articulate, and motivated individuals. If we work together in common unity we can achieve the changes that we seek and end this suffering that we face.
Because of this we are announcing the beginning of a charitable non-profit foundation to fill a niche in the quinolone victim community. More specifically, the niche is to stimulate and fund university level research that will inform and educate the medical community. Our goal is not to compete or replace any existing organization, website, or social network but to work in concert with these entities to fulfill our mission to understand and minimize/reduce quinolone toxicity as a cause of human suffering in the world. Hopefully the organization will be named the ‘Quinolone Vigilance Foundation’ (QVF). We can’t say that will be the name for 100% sure (until an attorney does the necessary due diligence work and signs off on the name). We chose that name because even though thousands of individual are damaged from Fluoroquinolones, quinolones (the foundation class of drugs) in and of themselves are toxic. New drugs continue to be developed from both quinolones and fluoroquinolones. It is an unfortunate probability, that in the future we are going to continue to see folks damaged from newer antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs that are based on these drugs. Because of this, we would like the foundation be broad enough to cover those individuals also.
The current URL for the future foundation is www.saferpills.org. This URL was chosen as an easy to remember URL and not actually associated with the official name. Eventually the foundation will have other URL’s (probably some with FQ in them) as it becomes more comprehensive.
We are in the processing of negotiating a pro-bono law firm to handle the necessary incorporation paperwork and seeking non-profit status from the IRS. Even though the law firm will be providing pro-bono services we need to solicit funds seed money to cover the incorporation costs for Federal and State fees. Any seed money that we received for starting the foundation will be tax deductible retroactively once the non-profit status is achieved.
Initial board members are being selected based on their involvement in the FQ community, individual areas of expertise, and a demonstrated ability to work closely together in a humble, diplomatic, and altruistic fashion. Each board member will direct foundation activities within their areas of expertise. The board will be announced after more formal formulation has been achieved. Once the board is established, a few committees will be initiated to direct fundraising activities, oversee research, and interact with the media and community. Committees will be made up of individuals who are directly involved in the FQ community, demonstrate the ability to work closely in a respectful and altruistic manner, and are willing to commit the time and effort to achieve the goals necessary.
It is important to note that ALL individuals involved with the foundation are providing their talents on a pro-bono basis without monetary or material compensation. The foundation will be structured so that the maximum amount of funds raised can go directly to achieving the mission, mainly research, and expenses for administration will be kept to a bare minimum.
If you are interested in participating in any way, and/or want to be kept up to date on the progress, I encourage you to go to the URL www.saferpills.org and sign up for ‘Updates and News’ on the right side of the screen. You will be kept update to date on organization news, including: incorporation process, volunteer opportunities, committee opportunities, and financial needs, and general news.
Also, if you are aware of anyone who may not receive this information and may be enthusiastically interested, please share with them this post. Please, if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or offers do not hesitate to contact me.
David Melvin
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
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