As many of you may know, I have been working on the development of a semi-postal stamp series to benefit brain tumor research at the NIH/NINDS. It has been a laborious process over the last 5 years but hopefully, all the stars are aligned to bring this project to the attention of our legislators and with the support of several other neurological agencies and/or non-profits, we may have a grassroots movement to propel this effort forward to benefit not only brain tumor patients and their families but other individuals who are affected by neurological disorders and/or traumatic brain injury.
It all started with the idea, because of the funding that the breast cancer research stamp netted-$52 million in 9 years, and the fact that I was a postal employee and recognize the value of a marketable and saleable postal stamp. I then had the difficult task of finding an individual or subject that would convey the message and be marketable so that the end result would be stamp sales, awareness raised and a branding of sorts with the mission overall.
Our effort began with the idea that George Pocheptsov, an internationally renowned artist who has been recognized by many of the beltway’s residents, and who lost his father to a brain tumor when he was only a toddler, would be the artist to render the stamp. George isn’t one of the artists in the talent pool at the USPS and would have to be accepted through a formal application process to be considered for this project and George’s work is known for its detail, a problem when tranlsating a vision onto a postage stamp. Nevertheless, we will continue the dialog in hopes that there is potential for George to be the artist for the Brain Tumor Awareness Organization’s Commemorative Stamp (wishful thinking), or that our vision of a brain depicted inside of a human profile with the display of a soldier’s helmet, nurses’ cap, baseball cap, and other types of hats swirling in the background and the gleaming image of a silver ribbon incorporated into the picture. This is an amateur’s attempt to convey in a small space the fact that the brain and any of its disorders do not discriminate and that the silver ribbon needs to gain awareness as the national symbol for all those disorders. We trust that we can have direct input to the process so that all brain organizations will support the promotion of said stamp, drive purchases and awareness through their respective support of said stamp, increasing funding for the specific programs dealing with brain injury/disorders/tumors at the DOD, NIH, NIMH, NINDS and the NCI and provide better treatment, screening and support which results in the furthering of each respective organization’s mission-reducing burden, increasing quality of life, making available access to support and medical services and reducing incidence where possible.

Today, we are trying to bring all partners to the table.

The Semi-Postal Stamp Project-

The Brain Tumor Awareness Organization began lobbying for a semi-postal stamp to benefit brain tumor research programs at the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute in 2004.
Today, we have joined forces with The Silver Ribbon Coalition who represent brain organizations also seeking the implementation of a Silver Ribbon Awareness Stamp since 1999.
We have received positive feedback from the United States Postal Service Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee for our project particularly since it would benefit those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, especially our Veterans. We have contacted Dr. William Timmer, the brain tumor research program director at the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Raymond Kington, the Director of the National Institutes of Health to discuss how this project can benefit the following programs: The Department of Defense (DOD) The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) and the Brain Tumor Research Program at The National Cancer Institute. We introduced this project to Senators Lindsay Graham and Jim DeMint, and Representative Bob Inglis for their commitment and support to introduce to Congress.