Stop CMV DayStop CMV and the CMV Action Network sponsored the 1st Annual Stop CMV Day at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday June 14th, 2009. Chase Field is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hosted the Houston Astros. CMV parents and families, along with children born affected with congenital CMV, were in attendance and fielded inquiries from the press and the public about the dangers of CMV.
Event Testimonials"I've never had so many people ask about CMV! That was my goal, to have everyone look at us in these shirts and say "what is that?"...I can't wait to do it again!" -Phoenix Area Representative/Event Chair Heather Key
"For me, I related CMV with baseball in the following way...I realized it's not about winning or losing, you should make the best out of the odds you're given, and do your best to change the "game" for others." -Christina Holbert
"It was the funnest game we ever lost...we have to get the word out about this preventable virus that has affected too many." -Michelle O'Daniel
"When I came home and saw us on the TV (tivo), it hit me--we did something awesome today!" -Jamie Underwood
Final Thoughts"Stop CMV Day really highlights the importance of how we communicate our message to the public. So many times, the focus is on getting our name out and creating awareness. But what do we do when people have a question for us about CMV, especially the most basic--"what is CMV"? In business, it's called the "elevator pitch", a quick, concise communication of your key points and information. Sometimes we have only 15-20 seconds to tell people about CMV--sometimes it can be even as little as 5 seconds. What we do with that time is important in educating the public and bringing more interest and activists to our cause.
Every attendee and parent at Stop CMV Day was asked about CMV in the most transient of places--the concourse, the snack line, the bathroom--I was even asked in the elevator! I finally got to use my CMV elevator pitch IN an elevator after the game! My answer to "What is CMV"? "A virus that causes birth defects. You can go to stopcmv.com for more information."
Think about your elevator pitch...begin with something simple that can be expanded upon with more time or more questions. I guarantee that you will become even more confident in talking about CMV with strangers and that you will create true awareness within your most simple and friendly daily interactions."
Special ThanksSpecial thanks to Vickie Underwood, Robin Key, Arianna Garciaglenn, Liza Wilkinson, Jamie Underwood, Lisa Zucarelli, Kasie Thompson, Thompson family, Hendrickson family, Lisa Saunders, Janelle Greenlee, Micheal Fitch, Brian McCammon, and Phoenix Area Representative Heather Key for the chairing and coordinating of this event!
At Stop CMV, our mission is to prevent and eliminate congenital CMV and to improve the lives of all people affected by congenital CMV. Since 2003, Stop CMV and The CMV Action Network have been the largest all-volunteer organization in the world dedicated to preventing congenital CMV in future generations and improving the quality of life for those with congenital CMV. Without your support, this work would not be possible. Other Ways to Get Involved
- Post a Stop CMV web PSA
- Print and post a Stop CMV flyer
- Buy and wear Stop CMV Apparel
- Sign the Stop CMV Petition
- Email your Elected Officials
Please include details about you and your child's experience with congenital CMV. You're encouraged to include information about your pregnancy, delivery, diagnosis, prognosis and how your child is doing. Feel free to write about your thoughts and feelings as you have raised your CMV child.
Your experiences will encourage and strengthen other CMV parents and will offer the public invaluable insight about the CMV virus. These compelling stories can be the key to positive change - policymakers, the press, and other key influencers will learn more about congenital CMV and its profound impact, largely unseen around the United States and the world, until now...
Send your story to: email@stopcmv.com.