McCarthy: personal stories and experience sought for Valley Fever Symposium set for September 23

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill.

 "As we carry on our fight against Valley Fever, it is important to remember that we are not in this fight alone.  Throughout our community, all of us know someone affected by Valley Fever, and their courage in the face of this terrible illness only strengthens our will to combat and eliminate it.
 "That is why, as we work to finalize the details of our upcoming Valley Fever Symposium, we want to show the courage demonstrated by our friends, family, and neighbors affected by this disease through a public forum so they can share their personal stories and experiences.
 "On September 23rd, we will hold a kick-off reception to our Valley Fever Symposium at the Kern County Department of Public Health’s Hans Einstein Center.  This Valley Fever Survivors Reception will allow our members of our community who have experienced first-hand the effects of Valley Fever to meet and talk with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden, M.D. and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, M.D.
 "If you have a story or a personal experience, I encourage everyone to come and share them.  It is critical that we continue to shed light on Valley Fever and its impact on all our communities, whether it is in the Central Valley, the Indian Wells Valley, or the Antelope Valley.

 "More details and announcements will follow regarding our Valley Fever Symposium in the coming weeks!
 "If you are interested in attending the reception, or for more information about the symposium, please send an email to RSVP.McCarthy@mail.house.gov or call my Bakersfield office at 661-327-3611.
 "Finally, I know my friend and Valley Fever survivor Lori Crown is assisting with another Kern County Honor Flight that is taking our local WWII veterans to Washington, DC this weekend. Follow them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HonorFlightKernCounty and welcome all of them home this Saturday at the William M. Thomas Terminal at 8:30pm.