Friday, August 22, 2008

Chesapeake Woman with MS to Speak at Democratic National Convention

Beth Robinson had planned a low-key Thursday. She wanted to clean her house and watch the U.S. women's soccer team play the Brazilians for the Olympic gold medal.

Instead, Robinson, a stay-at-home mom from Chesapeake married to a Marine, was shopping for new clothes and luggage, fielding phone calls from reporters and packing for Denver.

Robinson, 33, is one of a handful of regular folks tapped by the Democratic National Committee to speak at the convention next week…

With a soapbox that will reach thousands, Robinson knows there is at least one issue she plans to highlight: health care.

Robinson has multiple sclerosis, and getting access to the doctors she needs at a price she can afford is a constant worry.

"Unless you're a healthy person, the system doesn't work well," she said. "They don't make it simple for people, especially for a person who hasn't learned to be an advocate for themselves."

This is an excerpt from an August 21 article by Deirdre Fernandes in the Virginian-Pilot. Read more.