<< Date >>

<< Address to proper official >>

Dear __________:

I am writing to request a << state, county, city >> proclamation be issued to commemorate Suddenly Sleepy Saturday - A Day of Narcolepsy Awareness on March 8, 2008. This is the 6th day of National Sleep Awareness Week®, the annual week-long health promotion campaign, sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) that takes place during the week leading up to the return of Daylight Saving Time, when thousands of << state, county, city >> residents will choose to lose yet another hour of much needed sleep. I am a member of Narcolepsy Network, a national nonprofit organization serving narcolepsy patients and those who care for and about them, which is partnering with NSF for this year's National Sleep Awareness Week® campaign.

Narcolepsy is a chronic, lifelong neurological sleep disorder. No matter how much sleep the individual gets at night, a person with narcolepsy experiences excessive daytime sleepiness, irresistible sleep attacks, and cataplexy - a loss of muscle tone brought on by sudden emotional stimuli such as laughter, surprise or anger. Cataplexy occurs when the natural paralysis of REM or dream-stage sleep invades wakefulness. Other REM-related symptoms - hallucinations and sleep paralysis - may occur while waking or falling asleep. Symptoms often begin in the teen years and increase over time. Undiagnosed narcolepsy can impair educational goals, relationships, career success and even one's independence.

Suddenly Sleepy Saturday is an effort to lead the estimated 65,000 Americans who are living with undiagnosed narcolepsy to a proper diagnosis and treatment. Today's newer treatments are helping many people with narcolepsy realize a higher quality of life.

We invite individuals who cannot stay awake in spite of a good night's sleep to visit Narcolepsy Network's website at www.narcolepsynetwork.org or call 1-888-292-6567

I have enclosed a draft proclamation for this purpose, and will follow up with your office to see if this is possible and answer any questions you might have.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cordially,

<< Your name and title >>