Jeanette,

I thought the t-shirt thing was a great idea.  Where can I get one?

Greg Sterling

-----Original Message-----
From: Leo Fuhr <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 9:14 AM
Subject: Re: Question: Parkinson's Awareness Campaign


>Everytime a pwp writes a letter to the editor, or asks a clerk in a store,
>"Could you fill out this check for me, I have Parkinson's Disease and at
>this moment my muscles are rigid/tremoring and I'm not able to write
>clearly.", or comments at work or when in social settings, "Did you see
>Michael J. Fox, Lynda McKenzie, Jim Finn et al on the television last week
>talking about funding for FY2000 to support Parkinson's research, or
>speaking about the experimental surgery to allow her/him to regain use of
>muscles that had been keeping her/him immobile due to Parkinson's disease?"
> the awareness level of someone is being raised.  Hopefully, that person
>will comment to peers and family and the awareness will continue to grow.
>
>When I pay for groceries, I don't conceal my Medical Alert card that states
>that" I'm not drunk....I have Parkinson's disease", especially if it's a
>day/time when I'm having difficulty getting either cash, change or even
>getting my fingers to slide the plastic credit card from the plastic sleeve
>of my wallet.  I want those waiting and watching my struggle to be aware
>that it's Parkinson's symptoms that slow me down and I hope that awareness
>might expand that person's knowledge about a disease that shows no
>favorites and can strike anyone of any age, race or sex in any country of
>the world.
>
>I wear my T-Shirt that asks, "Do you know someone that has Parkinson's?" on
>the back to walk the inside track at the community center.  When the shirt,
>a letter I've written to the editor, or my struggling to pay at the retail
>counter causes someone to ask a question or ask how I'm feeling or if I
>need help.....I try to respond positively but in a way that teaches the
>person asking the question that having Parkinson's isn't fun and those with
>the disease are trying to advocate for research funding increases to
>hopefully find both a cure and a cause that may allow prevention of
>Parkinson's disease in the future.
>
>Friends, family and members of church and organizations or groups I or my
>husband are part of are often asked by me to sign petitions, write or call
>congress asking for increased funding for focused Parkinson's research. The
>mayor of my community is married to a sorority sister and he signed a
>proclaimation for "Parkinson's Awareness Month" in April and he and a group
>of my sorority sisters posed for a picture that was run in the local
>newspaper.
>
>Any of these kind of actions are  ways of educating others about
>Parkinson's disease.  My" Pennies for Parkinson's "jar has been passed at
>organization meetings, health fairs, support group meetings and labels for
>jars have been given to interested persons who periodically give me
>collected monies to forward to fund research. I joined Jerry Finch's
>WebRing for PWP(people with parkinson's)and have written about my own
>experience with Parkinson's and have e-mailed persons who responded to
>reading that story.  Information and ideas from the PIEN list inspire and
>challenge me to do more to spread the story about Parkinson's disease.
>
>Jeanette Fuhr
>49/47/44?
><[log in to unmask]>
>
>----------
>From: Edie Luther. <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Question: Parkinson's Awareness Campaign
>Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 7:02 AM
>
>Getting the word out to the public, not just the pwp's, is exactly why our
>support
>group had a flea market last year, and we are planning more activities
>which
>will
>bring the public to awareness  We had a group of students from a private
>school
>collect money and about 20 of them come to our walk-a-thon.  I feel we are
>becoming more and more acknowledged.  A principal of a public school
>stopped
>my husband and said, "I saw you and your wife on tv  last night.
>Parkinson's
>Disease is a nasty disease,."  She gave  a donation.  We also are included
>in
>medical programs.
>
>I agree we need more awareness, but we have come a long way in the last
>couple
>of years to make the public aware of this dreadful disease and the fact
>that
>this
>disease also attacks the young.  Edie Luther