(Richmond, VA) – Sheltering Arms, Central Virginia’s premier physical rehabilitation healthcare provider, today stepped onto the big stage of Super Bowl advertising by releasing its first spot developed specifically for the big game.

The advertisement, which runs thirty seconds, will premier during WWBT-TV’s coverage of the Super Bowl.  It utilizes a series of voice-overs of individuals telling how they’ve learned The Power to Overcome disability, thanks to working with Sheltering Arms.  The words said by the individuals in the spot are transcribed in graphics, which at the end of the commercial form the Sheltering Arms logo.

“The graphics in the ad are incredible, and it grabs you on a very visceral level,” said Sheltering Arms Director of Marketing and Public Relations Stephanie Sulmer.  “We feel it is right up there with the national spots in terms of creativity, and at the same time it educates viewers about how we help people get back to living their lives and doing the things they enjoy.”

The past year has been a groundbreaking one for Sheltering Arms.  Last spring, the organization launched an unique and innovative program with cutting-edge technologies called the iWALK Recovery Center, which continues to receive both national and international attention.  In the next few months, Sheltering Arms has plans to launch more exciting programs that will help people regain their lives.

“We don’t want to be the “best kept secret” in Richmond, and that’s why we chose the Super Bowl as our advertising platform,” said Sulmer.  “We want everyone to know about Sheltering Arms and how we help patients to find the power to overcome their disabilities and setbacks resulting from illness and injury.”

Sheltering Arms worked with Studio Center’s Richmond office to produce the commercial.

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services.  To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and eight outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB.

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(Richmond, Virginia) – As Virginia’s lawmakers consider a bill that would level the playing field between online and brick and mortar retailers, business owners from across the commonwealth will descend on the General Assembly to discuss concerns with their local representatives.

The issue of e-fairness, that online retailers with a physical location in Virginia should be required to collect the same state sales taxes as traditional retailers, is top of mind right now.  Amazon.com has a warehouse in Sterling and is planning to build two distribution centers, one in Chesterfield County and another in Dinwiddie.  The company uses a loophole that allows it to avoid paying sales taxes.  According to a recent poll, nearly 60% of Virginians feel that is unfair.  Virginia Beach Senator Frank Wagner has introduced a bill (SB 597) to close the loophole, which is expected to be considered in early February.

Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA), which has been representing businesses in Virginia for more than 100 years, will hold its annual “Retailer Day on the Hill” on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, with more than 200 attendees.

“This is a critical time for businesses in Virginia, both due to the e-fairness issue and a number of concerns related to the economy,” said VRMA President Laurie Aldrich.  “We expect spirited conversations between our retailers and their elected representatives.”

Retailers and representatives from the VRMA will meet with their Delegates and Senators throughout the day, beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m.

For more information on the e-fairness issue, please visit http://standwithmainstreet.com/virginia.

About VRMA
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association was established in 1905.  VRMA is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.virginiaretail.org.

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(WASHINGTON, DC) – FightSMA, an international nonprofit organization created to strategically accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), has named Ron Imbach as its new Executive Director, effective Dec. 1, 2011.

Ron Imbach is replacing the current CEO and founder of FightSMA, Martha Slay, who guided the organization from its inception in 1991 until the present.  Under Martha’s leadership, FightSMA has grown from an initial crusade to bring higher levels of awareness and understanding of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to the public to a leading advocate and research-centered organization focusing on the treatment and cure of the disease and support for the families of children with SMA.

“For the past 20 years, Martha Slay has led FightSMA with great passion, intelligence, and dedication; the SMA community owes her a great deal of gratitude for her accomplishments,” said FightSMA Chair Mike Calise.   “She has been a great inspiration to us all personally and professionally.”

Martha and her husband, Joe Slay, will continue to be actively involved as Board members for FightSMA.

Ron Imbach has worked in non-profit organizations in fundraising and leadership roles for the past twelve years, including:  the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Volunteers of America, and the Wesley Theological Seminary.  Through Ron’s leadership, expertise, and diligence, the charities he has served have benefitted greatly with major, planned, and corporate gifts totaling well over $100 million.  He is also an accomplished speaker and trainer, speaking to audiences of 5000 or more and training hundreds of staff and other groups.  According to Dan Hayden, Board member and head of the transition committee,

“Ron’s experience and track record of results have helped Ron become a visionary leader as well as a strong manager and motivator. “

Prior to working with charities, Ron was a financial advisor with a major brokerage firm, focusing on retirement and estate planning while raising and managing several million dollars in assets.  He was also a business development executive and worked in management positions in accounting and consulting in the private sector.  He has also owned and operated his own business.  Chairman of the Board, Michael Calise continued,

“We are also extremely excited to have Ron Imbach joining FightSMA as Executive Director. His vast experience in the nonprofit and business sectors will benefit FightSMA greatly and make him a great leader of our organization.  Ron is very passionate about FightSMA and will challenge each of us to have our legacy be finding a treatment or cure for SMA.” 

Ron was very active and excelled academically while completing his MBA at George Washington University with a concentration in marketing and public policy and his undergraduate studies at Shepherd University, majoring in accounting and economics.

FightSMA is also in the process of moving its national headquarters from Richmond, Virginia to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area in early 2012.  Founded in 1991, FightSMA (also known as “Andrew’s Buddies”) has awarded research grants at more than 40 universities and research institutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.  For more information, please visit:  www.fightsma.org.

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(Richmond, Virginia) – In the hectic world in which we live, sleep during the holiday season can often be difficult.  There are a ton of tips to help individuals sleep better this time of year. There are so many, in fact, that sleep news and advice website SleepBetter.org is listing a dozen of them for 2011 in a series of articles titled “12 Holiday Sleep Tips”.  However, SleepBetter’s medical sleep expert says the one that is most important to remember is to avoid or at least moderate consumption of alcohol.

“People need to know that alcohol ultimately disrupts sleep even though it seems to act as a hypnotic,” said Dr. Lisa Shives, who is a contributor to SleepBetter.org and one of only a few practitioners with a fellowship in Sleep Medicine in addition to board certification by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

Hypnotic drugs and sedatives have a primary purpose of causing an individual to fall asleep, and alcohol can indeed make you feel an overwhelming urge to sleep.  However, as Dr. Shives says, that effect doesn’t last for long.

“It does make people sleepy at first but then as the etoh, or ethanol, is metabolized, people often end up wide awake in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.”

In the end, alcohol leads to maintenance insomnia, or difficulty staying asleep.

The simple answer to this problem is, of course, to avoid alcohol at holiday parties this year.  However, if you choose to partake, moderate your use of alcohol and try to stop two to three hours before bedtime.

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit SleepBetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, Virginia) – Daylight Savings Time ends in most of the United States and Canada, as well as portions of Mexico, at 2 a.m. on November 6, 2011.  A medical sleep doctor and contributor to sleep advice website SleepBetter.org says the yearly “fall back” is easier than the time change in the spring, but cautions that it signals the beginning of darker months that can lead to issues for some.

“If you go to bed at your normal time on Sunday night, then you are staying up one hour later than your internal clock thinks it is, which is doable for most people,” said Dr. Lisa Shives, who is one of only a few practitioners with a fellowship in Sleep Medicine in addition to board certification by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine..  “In the spring, you need to go to bed an hour earlier than your body wants to, and no matter how hard you try it’s nearly impossible to will your body to sleep when it’s not ready.”

Shives says many individuals could benefit from the extra hour of sleep gained when the clocks turn back.  She says, however, that the fall time change marks the beginning of shorter and darker days.

“Since sunlight is needed to keep your circadian rhythms on track, the fall and winter months can lead to sleeping difficulties and depression for many,” said Dr. Shives.  “To combat this, be sure to get plenty of light in the morning and throughout the day.  Natural sunlight is best, but if the days are cloudy or you’re up before the sun, turn on plenty of lights in the house and consider getting a light box.”

Dr. Shives says while adjusting to the time change (and even after you’re adjusted) avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, as they can disrupt your normal sleep patterns.

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, VA) – Golden autumn afternoons, fall foliage and cooler temperatures are a welcome change for most people after a long hot summer, but sleep tips website Sleepbetter.org says families should be watchful that the change in seasons could lead to sleep problems and other behavioral troubles for adults, teens and children.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that affects an estimated six percent of the population. A person with SAD can experience unexplained fatigue as daylight hours grow shorter into the fall and winter months. Other symptoms could include increased irritability, increased daytime sleepiness (as opposed to most other forms of depression, which can cause insomnia), difficulty concentrating, and craving carbohydrates and sugary foods, so-called “comfort foods.”

“For some folks, autumn clearly presents something much more than just ‘great sleeping weather,’” said Dan Schecter, vice president of Consumer Products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org. “If families suspect they are affected by SAD, they should seek a proper diagnosis from a physician or mental health professional.”

Schecter said families also can take steps on their own to encourage healthy sleep patterns as the seasons change:

• Make seasonal adjustments, if necessary, but set regular sleeping and waking times and stick with the schedule, even on weekends
• Get plenty of exercise, outdoors if at all possible, to maximize exposure to daylight
• Ensure your home sleeping environment and bedding are clean and appropriate to the season
• Eat a well-balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, VA) – In light of new research, a sleep expert working with one of the Internet’s premier sites for news and information on how to sleep better is calling for sleep testing for all children suspected of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  Dr. Lisa Shives, a medical doctor who specializes in sleep issues and contributes to SleepBetter.org, says the symptoms of ADHD and sleep deprivation are too similar to ignore, and the sleep testing would guard against misdiagnosis.

New research from the New England Center for Pediatric Psychiatry and the Rhode Island College Department of Special Education indicates that the majority of the more than five million children in the U.S. who are taking medication for ADHD may actually be exhibiting symptoms of sleep deprivation.  The Centers for Disease Control says nearly one in ten American children between 5 and 17 years old have been diagnosed with ADHD.

“It is one of my missions as a sleep doctor to have a sleep evaluation become a standard part of the workup for ADHD,” said Dr. Shives, who is one of only a few practitioners with a fellowship in Sleep Medicine in addition to board certification by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

ADHD and inadequate sleep both can cause daytime hyperactivity, problems with concentration and learning and mood problems.  Studies have shown that a adding or subtracting just one hour of sleep per night can make a big difference in a child’s behavior.

“No one is questioning a valid diagnosis from a trained specialist,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of Consumer Products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org.  “However, while looking at the possibility that a child has ADHD, parents should also consider the child’s sleeping habits.”

As families work to settle in to healthy habits during the new school year, SleepBetter.org offers the following tips to help establish and maintain good sleep patterns for children:

• Studies show most school-age kids are at their best with 10-12 hours of sleep per night.  For a full chart on how much sleep your child needs, read this article at SleepBetter.org: http://sleepbetter.org/home/how-much-sleep-does-your-child-need/
• Set a regular bedtime each night and stick to it, even on weekends
• After-dinner play should be relaxing; avoid strenuous physical activity
• Avoid electronic devices as bedtime approaches, as light from computer and TV screens can act as a signal to the brain to “wake up”
• Create a nightly bedtime routine. Routines typically involve activities such as bathing and reading.  Starting the routine is a good signal to children (and adults) that it’s time to prepare to sleep

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, VA) – Maybe it’s the inconvenience of using coin-operated washing machines down in the basement of the dorm. Or perhaps it’s the fact that mom isn’t around to do the laundry. Whatever the reason, a recent survey from sleep tips website SleepBetter.org shows U.S. college students probably would earn poor grades for keeping their bedding clean.

Almost half of students (43 percent) report they only change their bed sheets once per month, and three percent admit they never change their sheets. Researchers found an even worse story regarding mattress pads: 43 percent of college students say they wash their mattress pads only every couple of years and another 43 percent said they never wash their mattress pads.

“The first temptation is to say ‘Gross!’” said Dan Schecter, vice president of Consumer Products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org. “Good bedding hygiene is not just an aesthetic issue; it’s a matter of health and safety.”

Schecter notes that SleepBetter.org hired an independent scientific laboratory to test pillows and mattress pads from current college students in 25 states. The recently-released report Sleepbetter.org Investigates: Fungus Among Us reveals the following discoveries:

• On average, the pillows in the study contained 350,000 potential live bacteria colonies and 91,000 potential live yeast and mold colonies
• Mattress pads in the study, on average, contained two million potential bacteria colonies and 330,000 yeast and mold colonies
• Men’s pillows were statistically almost twice as microbe-infested as women’s

“Maybe this isn’t an issue for a super-healthy 20-year-old,” said Schecter. “But anyone with sinusitis, chronic allergies, an immune deficiency, asthma or other breathing problems should take note of these results and should change and clean their bedding more often.”

For more information about the college student survey and the laboratory results, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, VA) – Convenience store shelves have long featured a variety of products to give consumers a jolt of personal energy.  Lately, they’re being joined by a new class of products like herbal sodas and melatonin-laced brownies that are designed to help stressed-out people relax at the end of the day.  One of the web’s premier sleep websites is recommending against the use of these products.

“They may sound like a good idea, but all of that chemical stimulation and tranquilizing can interfere with healthy sleeping patterns,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of Consumer Products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org.  “All those uppers and downers are no substitute for regular natural rest.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” continued Schecter.  “There’s nothing wrong with a cup of coffee in the morning or some soothing chamomile tea in the evening.  But in our go-go culture, people are tempted to rely too much on these ‘energy products,’ especially when some of the products are being promoted in multi-million dollar marketing campaigns.”

SleepBetter.org offers these natural, non-pharmaceutical strategies to promote beneficial and healthy sleep:

• Set regular times for going to sleep and waking-up, even on weekends
• Create a dark, cool and quiet environment in the bedroom
• Make sure bedding is clean, fresh and appropriate for the season and that pillows and mattress provide support
• As bedtime approaches, avoid stimulating activities like video games and using the computer
• A little light reading at bedtime is fine, but don’t put your brain into overdrive with a suspenseful thriller

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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(Richmond, Virginia) – Continuing its tradition of offering the best and most innovative technologies, Sheltering Arms announced this week that is has been selected as one of the first United States clinical reference users for the Valedo™Motion lower back pain therapy device from Hocoma.

Lower back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability in America, and is a leading contributor to missed work in. Many of these sufferers could find relief from functional movement therapy to improve back strength, movement awareness and mobility. The ValedoMotion device is designed with these individuals in mind, as well as those rehabilitating from back injuries.

Wireless sensors that are placed on to the patient’s back sense movement and give feedback in real time.  The sensors work in tandem with a motivating game-like environment that guides the patient through exercises specifically designed for low back pain therapy.

The advantages of this new device compared to traditional therapies are numerous.  Not only are therapists immediately able to determine if the patient

is performing exercises correctly, the patient is actually entertained with motivating and specific game-like therapy exercises.  Awareness of body movements is heightened, as the exercises give precise feedback in real time.  Additionally, patient training activities are charted over time, giving both patient and therapy teams an easy way to view progress.

The ValedoMotion, developed by Swiss company Hocoma, has been in wider use in Europe and recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for us in the U.S.  In addition to Sheltering Arms in Richmond, two other medical centers in the US have been selected as first clinical reference users.

Additional information:

• ValedoMotion brochure (PDF)
• Videos that show demonstrations of the ValedoMotion
• Back pain information from the National Institutes of Health

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services. To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and eight outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook and Twitter.

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Millions of American families are welcoming home college students this month for summer break. The homecoming could be unsettling for family sleep patterns and sleep tips website Sleepbetter.org offers some advice for coping with the seasonal change.

(Richmond, VA) – Millions of American college students are returning home this month for summer break.  These students are bringing with them tales of adventure, loads of dirty laundry and – quite possibly – some very un-productive sleep habits.

“This can be a pretty disruptive time for families,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co. and creator of leading sleep tips website SleepBetter.org. “The challenge facing parents is to keep all-nighters, sleeping until noon and other dorm-related sleeping patterns from affecting the rest of the family.”

Research shows the body responds best to regular sleep patterns.  College students are tempted, and sometimes forced by their schedules, to adapt to irregular sleep patterns.  Once they’re back home, it can be tough to resume a healthy routine, but getting back on schedule is beneficial for the whole family.

Sleep tips website sleepbetter.org offers some tips to help families adjust to having a college student back around the house:

• It may be tough to “put the genie back in the bottle” and impose family sleep patterns on college-age students living at home, but don’t let them interfere with sleep times for younger siblings.
• Set reasonable and age-appropriate schedules for family members, and then try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, even on weekends.
• Researchers find that children who have regular bedtimes perform better at languages, reading and math than those who go to bed at different times.  And when children don’t get enough sleep, they can have problems with their mental, emotional and physical health.
• If Junior brought home bedding or pillows that he or she has been attached to for years, this might be the perfect time to look at updating to new, cleaner, and more appropriate sleep products.

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

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Specialists will speak on respiratory issues, nutrition, orthopedics, clinical trial and neurology during FightSMA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

(Washington, DC) – The 2011 FightSMA Annual Conference, the Good Fight, is underway at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel this week, and spinal muscular atrophy experts are gearing up to participate in a one-of-a-kind webcast. Participating in the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! webcast on Thursday, May 5, 2011 will be researchers and scientists in the fields of pulmonology, nutrition, orthopedics, clinical trial and neurology.

This unique web-based program is free to the public and will feature panel discussions by leaders in the SMA community.  Online attendees and those attending in person will be able to ask questions  of panelists representing each specific discipline, an opportunity that is unparalleled and offers exclusive access to some of the most respected professionals in the field.

The live webcast will begin at 9:00 AM EDT at www.fightsma.org, and will conclude at 2:00 PM EDT.

Those residing in the Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland areas who are interested in the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! panel are encouraged to attend in person at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel (480 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024)

Thriving with SMA Schedule (all times are EDT)

• 9:00 AM – Webinar I: Pulmonary/Respiratory: Dr. Mary Schroth (University of Wisconsin), Dr. Richard Kravitz (Duke University), Dr. Nanci Yuan (Stanford University),
• 10:15 – Webinar II: Orthopedic: Dr. John Smith (University of Utah), Dr. Craig Eberson (University Orthopedics Rhode Island), Dr. Brian Snyder (Harvard University), Dr. John Grayhack (Children’s Memorial)
• 11:30 – Webinar III: Nutrition: Rebecca Hurst (University of Utah), Erin Seffrood (University of Wisconsin), Barbara Godshall (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center), Dr. Tom Crawford (Johns Hopkins University)
• 12:45 – Webinar IV: Clinical Trial / Neurology: Dr. Kathryn Swoboda (University of Utah), Dr. Sandy Reyna (University of Utah), Dr. Carolina Tesi-Rocha (Children’s National), Dr. Bob Leshner (Rady Children’s Hospital and The University of California San Diego), Dr. Ching Wang (Stanford University), Dr. Alex MacKenzie (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario)

About FightSMA

FightSMA was created to strategically accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number-one inherited cause of infant death. Celebrating its 20th year, the organization pursues this objective by raising awareness and funding for SMA research.  For more information on the organization and on spinal muscular atrophy, please visit http://www.fightsma.org.

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Sheltering Arms Patient’s Story to be Shared With the World During National Stroke Month

(Richmond, Virginia) — Jamaal Williams doesn’t fit the profile of a typical stroke victim, but now the Richmond resident will represent stroke victims across the country as part of a program from the National Stroke Association.

Jamaal hard at work

Jamaal played football at Virginia Union University. Jamaal was young and vibrant. Yet, when Jamaal was brought to Sheltering Arms, a massive stroke had robbed him of the ability to move the right side of his body or even speak.

He was 30 years old. Through years of hard work, along with help and technology provided by Sheltering Arms, he has regained many of his previous abilities. He is now mobile, independent, and able to communicate.

Not only is Jamaal doing well with his own recovery, he is now working to help others. Coming full circle, he is now himself a volunteer at Sheltering Arms, working to inspire others to overcome their disabilities.

Because of his determination, hard work, and sunny outlook, Jamaal has been named as one of the subjects of the National Stroke Association’s Faces of Stroke campaign. The campaign will be unveiled in May, which is National Stroke Month. Telling a different individual’s story each day during the month, the campaign has a goal of raising awareness of stroke prevention and recovery. The profiles will be available on the organization’s website, Stroke.org, and will be promoted via Facebook and Twitter.

“Jamaal has achieved great things in his recovery, and we’re so proud of him,” said Sheltering Arms President and CEO James Sok. “From the beginning of his rehabilitation, he learned and embraced the Power to Overcome. Jamaal and his family became part of our family.”

Jamaal was featured in the 2009 TV documentary The Power to Overcome, which aired locally. He lives in Richmond and enjoys spending time with his mother, brother, daughter and his devoted Rottweiler.

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services.  To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and nine outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook or Twitter.

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SleepBetter.org Study Aims to Find out What Gross Stuff Lives Inside Old College-Bound Pillows

(Richmond, Virginia) – Dust mites, fungus and skin cells .. oh my! SleepBetter.org is conducting an ambitious scientific study of pillows and mattress pads belonging to enrolled college students, and they’re going to give away FREE bedding in the process.

The sleep tips, news, and information website is collecting 100 sample pillows and 20 mattress pads, all from students attending a U.S. college or university in the fall of 2011. The goal is to find out what’s inside the items on which these students would have been sleeping. A third-party testing lab will measure the amount of bacteria, molds, yeasts, fungi and dust-mites in the items, but will not test for any specific or personal human residues.

In order to conduct the study, SleepBetter needs bedding and they’re asking for help. Any college student with a pillow or mattress pad they want to donate to the cause should visit http://sleepbetter.org/home/back-to-college-pillowcollectform/ and sign up. Each individual whose pillow or mattress pad is chosen for the research will receive a brand new replacement, at no cost, from Carpenter Co.

The deadline to sign up for the study is April 1, 2011 at 12 noon (EDT).

About Carpenter Co. / www.sleepbetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the Web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep-related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit www.SleepBetter.org. You can also connect to SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

(Richmond, VA) – Thanks to a recent agreement between the NCAA, CBS and Turner Sports, 2011 will be the first year that all 67 games in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament will be broadcast on national TV. For sports fans, the temptation to stay glued to the TV set will be great.

“We hope folks won’t let their ‘hoop dreams’ interfere too much with regular sleep patterns,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co. and creator of leading sleep tips website SleepBetter.org. “But with tournament venues scattered across the country and game times scheduled throughout the day and into the night, it would be surprising if fans can avoid breaking their regular rest rhythms.”

Research has shown that short-term sleep deprivation can cause confusion, impaired memory, diving mishaps and diminished vision. Since most Americans suffer from chronic sleep deprivation to begin with, the prospect of marathon sports watching only adds to the challenge. SleepBetter.org offers the following tips for making the most of “March Madness.”

• Use Technology — DVRs allow easy recording of games and streamlined viewing afterwards. The biggest challenge is keeping friends from prematurely revealing the results of games already played.
• Avoid Artificial Stimulants — Coffee and energy drinks can help short-term, but loading up with caffeine can interfere with efforts to get to sleep later on.
• Drink Alcohol in Moderation — Alcoholic drinks and sports seem to go together, but too many drinks can also disrupt your sleep patterns.
• Repay “Sleep Debt” — The good news is that people can “make up” lost sleep. But it can’t be done with one marathon snooze; lost sleep must be paid back an hour or two per night over time.

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.