| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution designating March 2005 as "Endometriosis |
| 3 | Awareness Month" in Florida. |
| 4 |
|
| 5 | WHEREAS, endometriosis, a condition involving abnormal |
| 6 | uterine cell growth, affects more women than does breast cancer, |
| 7 | striking more than 5.5 million teens and women in the United |
| 8 | States alone and nearly 70 million worldwide, and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, studies have shown an elevated risk of certain |
| 10 | cancers and autoimmune diseases in endometriosis patients, and |
| 11 | endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility and |
| 12 | hysterectomy, and |
| 13 | WHEREAS, endometriosis may have a debilitating impact on a |
| 14 | woman's life and her relationships, in some cases rendering her |
| 15 | unable to work, to care for herself or her family, or to go |
| 16 | about her normal routines, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, there is currently no definitive cure for |
| 18 | endometriosis, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, the Endometriosis Research Center (ERC) is a |
| 20 | nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to address the needs of |
| 21 | the international community of individuals who suffer from |
| 22 | endometriosis and to improve, through education and support |
| 23 | programs, the quality of life for those with the disease, and |
| 24 | WHEREAS, the Endometriosis Research Center works to raise |
| 25 | awareness about endometriosis throughout the medical and lay |
| 26 | communities and raises funds to facilitate and promote existing |
| 27 | research for effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for |
| 28 | the disease, and |
| 29 | WHEREAS, in observance of the anniversary of the |
| 30 | Endometriosis Research Center, events and activities, including |
| 31 | "ERC Casual Days," are held annually during the month of March |
| 32 | in an effort to educate the general public about the |
| 33 | significance of this disease, to support and assist women living |
| 34 | with the disease, and to raise funds for the organization's |
| 35 | efforts, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 36 |
|
| 37 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 38 | Florida: |
| 39 |
|
| 40 | That March 2005 is designated as "Endometriosis Awareness |
| 41 | Month" in Florida. |