A Chronological History of the NFMCPA Leaders Against Pain Action Network
by Rae Marie Gleason, Medical Education & Research Director of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association

The Leaders Against Pain program originated in 2005 with the National Fibromyalgia Association and over the next five years grew to include approximately 200 national and international trained fibromyalgia advocates.  The goal of this scholarship program was to offer advocacy training for people interested in learning how to create a fibromyalgia awareness event along with media education to teach them how to promote an awareness event through television, radio and journalistic formats.

As time moved forward and the U.S. economic crisis hit the nation, the NFA fell on financial hard times.  In December 2009, the NFA requested that the six Leaders Against Pain serving on the Leaders Against Pain Executive Committee (LAPEC) come to Anaheim to discuss the jeopardy of the NFA and its programs, and then asked the Leaders if they could help.  Three of the six LAPEC members were unable to respond, and the three remaining members (Jan Chambers, Sharon Waldrop, and Tom Hintz) brainstormed over how to help. Jan offered to help the NFA in any way possible to protect valuable fibromyalgia programs, including FM Awareness Day and Leaders Against Pain.  Later, Jan also offered to host the organization’s website on her server to protect it and keep it available for people seeking help and resources. 

In October of 2010 an announcement was made by Lynne Matallana (Founder and then President of the NFA) at a large FM support group meeting in Mission Viejo, California, regarding the transition of NFA assets to Jan Chambers and her Center for Understanding, Research & Education of Fibromyalgia (CURE FM), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Jan. On October 28, 2010, a press release detailing the announcement of the transition of NFA assets was published and sent out through the Associated Press. A copy of that press release is included with this report.  These were freely given to Jan, and she has continued their development in her nonprofit organization to serve millions of people in the fibromyalgia community.

The Center for Understanding, Research & Education of Fibromyalgia, Inc. (CURE FM) was founded on November 19, 2008, by Jan Chambers.  The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association was created under the CURE FM umbrella as a dba on March 9, 2011.

In December 2010, the NFA Board of Directors approved paying me for several months (January – March) to help transition NFA assets over to the NFMCPA and educate Jan about varying programs, folders of information, and events.   

In January 2011 and with the approval of the NFA Board of Directors, I stood in the NFA Anaheim, California, offices along with Lynne and Richard Matallana and helped pass boxes of reports and assets (including LAP historic records, FM Awareness Day, and other program information in binders, files, and boxes) directly into Jan’s hands. Two of her sons helped carry out and pack a U-Haul truck with not only these materials but also computers, desks, file cabinets,  and many other donated items necessary to establish and manage the NFMCPA. Chiropractor Dr. Cory Kingston drove the loaded truck back to Logan, Utah, where everything was stored for use by the NFMCPA.  The programs and assets were donated to the NFMCPA, and no financial transactions occurred between the NFA and the NFMCPA.  The NFMCPA was not encumbered with the debilitating debts of the NFA. 

On March 10, 2011, as President of the NFA, Ms. Matallana wrote a letter that explained the circumstances for the transition of these assets to Jan and the NFMCPA, which was posted on the NFA website home page for over two years. Once again the transition of the LAP program (Coalition) to Jan and the NFMCPA was made as a public announcement to help protect the integrity of the NFA as well as guaranteeing the continuation of important fibromyalgia programs and events. On March 21, 2011, a press release was sent out detailing the transition of several programs, including Leaders Against Pain, to the NFMPCA. A copy of the NFA website Letter from the President and the press release are included with this report. (Please click here to see the 2011 President's Message from the NFA website that was posted for over two years and the related press release.)

The NFMCPA continues to overcome confusion surrounding these circumstances; however, new announcements occasionally surface about the resurrection of the NFA, its magazine and its for profit work that muddy the distinction between the two organizations.  This report is meant to assure members of the NFMCPA Leaders Against Pain Action Network that this program is the property of our organization and its continued development and purpose flourish under the NFMCPA's direction and vision. Besides carrying forward the LAP program and other NFA assets, the NFMCPA created its own programs and services including its website (fmcpaware.org), magazine  Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain LIFE; the Advocate Voice monthly newsletter; social media outreach venues including Facebook, Twitter, BlogTalk Radio and Pinterest.  The NFMCPA continues its charitable, nonprofit, and 501(c)3 tax exempt purposes through national and international advocacy programs including May 12 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and September Pain Awareness Month activities.

I hope this information helps everyone have a better understanding of LAP history and to feel confident that this is absolutely an NFMCPA program. I am available to answer any questions you may have at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..