Several bereaved families have asked President Shimon Peres to take advantage of his upcoming visit to Washington to lobby U.S. President Barack Obama for the release of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. The parents wrote to Peres and hope to meet with him before he leaves for Washington in mid-June to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S.s highest civilian distinction. "We believe that we have a responsibility to make sure we do not miss an opportunity to bring Pollard back home," wrote Yehuda and Esther Waxman, the parents of Nachshon Waxman, who was kidnapped and killed by Palestinian terrorists in 1994. Ruhama Raz, whose sister Miriam was killed in 1989 when terrorists caused a bus to breach guard rails along the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway and fall dozens of meters, also signed the letter, along with Ron Kerman, who lost his daughter, Tal, in a 2003 bus bombing in Haifa. The President's Residence commented on the request Monday, saying Peres intended to meet the families. "The president welcomes any activity to help Pollard," the statement said. Several weeks ago, when a group of activists circulated a petition demanding that Peres refuse to accept the award unless Pollard was released, Peres responded by saying he would raise the issue with Obama during their meeting. Peres has also recently sent a personal letter to the U.S. president asking him to pardon Pollard or commute his sentence on humanitarian grounds. There has been much speculation about Pollard's health ever since he was rushed to hospital on Passover Eve. According to his lawyers, he has suffered from increasingly debilitating and incapacitating medical problems that have resulted in emergency medical procedures. In a letter to Obama, Peres thanked him for the great friendship his administration had demonstrated toward Israel, detailing the common destiny and shared values between Israel and the U.S. He also said Pollard's family and many Israelis have been concerned over his deteriorating health. "Pollard's condition has greatly deteriorated," Peres wrote. "I am monitoring Pollard's health with concern. In light of his serious health condition and the fact that he has already served 26 years in prison, I once again ask that you consider granting clemency to Jonathan Pollard."