FELLOW KOSSAKS: CLIMB ON A TABLE ON AUGUST 19

Am I a nag about a cure for juvenile diabetes? YOU BET. I blog on Thursdays to count the days (now one year, one week and one day) since the House passed the stem cell research bill and ask why the Senate refuses to bring this to the floor for a vote. While I nag, my brother takes action. Kossaks: TAKE ACTION TOO. You can do so by climbing on a table . . . please keep reading.

My wonderful 15-year-old niece (my brother's daughter) was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes on his birthday in 1992. Since then, she has endured more than 10,000 finger sticks, a shunt in her abdomen, hospitalizations and more challenges than any of us could imagine - all with grace and hope. And she is no different than the tens of thousands of other kids suffering from this horrific disease. We can help! In 2002, ten years after her diagnosis, my niece asked her Dad to fulfill his pledge to "climb any mountain" for a cure. He did! Despite acrophobia, he trained . . . and climbed Mt. Whitney to raise money. Last year, he climbed in Bolivia. In August, he will be climbing Mt. Shasta. But a couple of days before the Mt. Shasta climb, he will host a "virtual climb" -- those of us who cannot climb mountains can climb stairs, climb on a table, climb into shoes -- climb anything for a cure. Climb something, Kossaks! And send a dime, send a quarter, send whatever you can -- and please send a PICTURE of your climb to: http://www.conquerdiabetes.org. And, in the interim, please call your Senators or send them an email and ask: What are you waiting for??? AND PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS DIARY -- CHILDREN ARE WAITING FOR OUR HELP.