This appeared in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Make your voice heard  now

By Alison Landes
Posted August 1 2005

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Aug 1, 2005



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Three cheers for Palm  Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson. A July 19
article heralding Aaronson's  launch of Floridians for Stem Cell Research and
Cures is cause for celebration.  Thanks also go to Sen. Bill Frist, who on Friday
announced his support for  federal funding of stem cell research.

Aaronson is spearheading the  initiative as a nonpartisan issue, and rightly
so. Parkinson's, Alzheimer's,  diabetes, spinal cord injury, Lou Gehrig's
disease, cancer and other disorders  do not differentiate between political
parties.

For two years, Palm Beach  County and the state of Florida have been in
ongoing negotiations, spending over  $800 million to bring Scripps to Florida.
There is talk of paying out more to  entice biotech companies to set up shop next
door to Scripps.

With  talented researchers being sought after by universities in other states
and  countries, how can our officials spend so many taxpayers' dollars and
not  include stem cell research? Does it make sense to restrict the means by
which  the most cutting-edge research of the century can be funded? Where in this
 equation are the patients and caregivers who are living and dying with these
 illnesses, disorders and spinal cord injuries? Shouldn't all stakeholders
have a  say?

Researchers believe that stem cells can replace diseased cells in  patients,
reversing the symptoms of a disease and perhaps even curing it. By  continuing
to restrict scientists' freedom to conduct research, the United  States will
lag further behind in technology -- with a heavy scientific,  financial and
human toll.

For those diagnosed with Parkinson's, families  watch their loved ones'
health deteriorate as the disease progresses and  assistance is needed for the most
basic of life's necessities. The cost of  Parkinson's is astronomical,
financially and emotionally.

And Parkinson's  represents only a fraction of the 100 million Americans who
can benefit from  this science. Considering the extent of this human
suffering, is it humane, is  it moral, is it ethical to shut out research because of
limitations imposed on  the many by the few?

The House of Representatives has passed HR810 and  the Senate is likely to
vote in September. Contact your senators and urge them  to pass it with no
amendments.

In addition, support the initiative set  forth by Floridians for Stem Cell
Research and Cures to put a constitutional  amendment before Florida voters in
September 2006.

Each of us who has a  voice needs to speak out to get the information to the
people. Voices raised in  unison will be heard.

Alison Landes is the founder and president of  Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's,
Inc. and South Florida congressional coordinator  of the Parkinson Action
Network.


____________________________________
Where to turn

For more information: E-mail [log in to unmask]  or write Take Charge!
Cure Parkinson's, Inc., 1489 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite  442, Boca Raton, FL
33486. On the Web at www.cureparkinsons.org

Urge the  Senate to pass HR810 with no amendments. Log on to www.StemPac.com
or  www.parkinsonaction.org or www.camradvocacy.org to contact your  senators.

Support the initiative of Floridians for Stem Cell Research and  Cures to put
a constitutional amendment before Florida voters in September 2006.  Sign on
to _www.StemPac.com_ (http://www.StemPac.com) .




Alison  Landes
Founder/ President
Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc.
1489 W.  Palmetto Park Road Suite 442
Boca Raton, Florida 33486
Tel:  561.620.1970
Fax: 561.488.5726
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web site:  _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/)

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