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Chillicothe Independent Volume 4 - No. 35 For May 15, 2002 Chillicothe, IL Snyder continues to raise funds, awareness for Parkinson's Disease Joan Blessington Snyder, right, of Chillicothe with U.S. Rep. Lane Evans (D-17th) and Carol Walton. Snyder and Evans have forged a friendship in their common fight to raise awarness and dollars for a cure for Parkinson's Disease. (Editor's note: No one talks more eloquently about Parkinson's Disease than Joan Snyder. The politics of the disease, the awareness, living with the neurological disorder, no one knows better than Joan Snyder. She has taken time to share her most recent efforts to bring awareness about, and make strides for a cure, for Parkinson's Disease.Thanks again Joan. kmm) I hate politics...and I haven't much liked any politician (except, of course, Mayor Don White!) since Paul Simon was the Democratic Senator from Illinois. My liberal ideas had taken a beating during the Clinton White House and I had sworn off the political process for good. But it seems a friendship made in "parkie-heaven"...just like so many of the friendships that I, Joan Blessington Snyder, have forged over the past few years on the internet and through my fundraising events. I had never met U.S. Representative Lane Evans until he answered my invitation to speak at "Links For A Cure" golf tournament and family funday, held at Three Sisters Park on a steamy July day last year. We two have discovered that not only do we share a common progressive, neurological disorder but we have found that we can help each other and our causes by co-operation. Me and my husband, Stan, went to the Quad Cities last year to celebrate with Congressman Evans and his staff, the kick-off of his 2002 re-election campaign. And Lane has returned the favor by attending a meeting at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. So when I got an invitation to see politics in action on Monday, April 29, you can imagine that I immediately said "roadtrip!!" Me and my best "parkie" buddy, Holly Angus left for Rock Island's VFW Post 1303 and were row three center for the Vetrerans' Forum on V.A. Healthcare Issues hosted by Congressman Evans (the ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee) and the Honorable Anthony J. Principi (the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs from George W. Bush's Cabinet). As Secretary, Sec. Principi directs the federal government's second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for America's veterans and dependents. With a budget of more than $52 billion, VA employs approximately 219,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices and national cemeteries throughout the country. Lane Evans is serving his 10th term in the US house of Representatives; he is recognized as a leading advocate of veterans and is a leading environmentalist but it is his ability to rise above his Parkinson's Disease that is remarkable. As the hearing was ending, Rep. Evans announced that the VA under the leadership of Sec. Prinicpi, is committing more than $30 million dollars to support research centers that will concentrate on specific problems of Parkinson's but the research will also include other basic biomedical, clinical and health services studies. I am too busy to celebrate, though. I am planning the "Shake, Rattle & Roll for Parkinson's Disease" event and am once again looking to the Democratic incumbent to attend and to speak to the crowd as they gather to make the gentle one or two mile walk along downtown Peoria's Riverfront to raise money & awareness. My event will kick off on Saturday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m. with "PATIENTS AS PROVIDERS" presented by PLWP (PEOPLE LIVING WITH PARKINSON'S).ORG. This will be another in a series which was very well received last year. It is open to all persons who have Parkinson's Disease or care about someone who does. This year, speakers will include: Dr. Rick Weber, Ph.D-Associate Professor of Immunopharmacology and Microbiology at the U of I College of Medicine, and Dr. Richard Lister, neurosurgeon and M.D.-Associate Dean for Strategic Planning & Development at the College of Medicine. This event is offered free of charge at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria Campus in the main lecture hall. During the afternoon, the Parkinson's group will attend a "parkie picnic" to celebrate the upcoming marriage of former Peorian Tom Kelly and Tammy McNamar as well as the birthdays of AJ Campbell, Dr. Rick Weber and Laura Dean. On, Sunday, May 26, I once again will be asking for awareness and money for research as I try something which is a departure from my past fundraisers held in Chillicothe. This year, with the guidance and help of the Parkinson Alliance, me and my friend and fellow plwp, Holly Angus have joined forces with Pat Sullivan, the owner of "Le Vieux Carre" complex on the corner of Water and State streets just across the street from the downtown Peoria Post Office. It is in this New Orleans style building that they will have final registration beginning at 10 a.m. with each participant asked to bring in $20 for a registration fee plus any collected contributions the walker would care to raise. Participants will be receiving a New York Nation Unity Walk t-shirt and a "Shake, Rattle & Roll" pin and be treated to an array of beverages, baked goods, fruit and pasta and pizza. At 10:30 a.m., Gina Morss from WEEK-TV 25, will again be assuming the responsibilities of Master of Ceremonies. This year's slate of possible speakers includes U.S. Congressman Lane Evans, State Representative David Leitch, Carol Walton from the Parkinson Alliance and Nancy Abraham and Brenda Tucker - the co-founders of PLWP.ORG. At 11 a.m., the walk will get underway along the riverfront and at 11:30 a.m. Walkers will be treated to the sounds of jazz provided by local legends: John Miller, David Parkinson and Steve Degenford. Prizes will be awarded to those bringing in the most collected donations in two age categories. Prizes so far are a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses valued at $249, an overnight stay for two at the Holiday Inn City Centre with dinner for two provided at Jim's Downtown Steakhouse followed by a romantic carriage ride from Carriage Classics, a swim party provided by the AmericInn, a large stuffed animal and gift certificate from Moondancer's, a stone garden rock from Otto's Monuments, and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses valued at $129, and an item from Chillicothe's Impulse. Corporate sponsors who have signed on so far include Caterpillar, Methodist Medical Center, First National Bank of Chillicothe, Geiger's True Value in Chillicothe and PRIDE of Peoria. Donations of food include: Happy Thoughts Coffee Shop, Five Star Vending, Better Beverages, Inc., Sam's Club, A Matter of Taste, Betty Sue's catering. Gina White's Homebaked Treats, Cub Foods, Kroger of Chillicothe, John Bee market, Phar-Mor and Rizzi's Restaurant. Others donating goods or services are; Gregg's florist, Mt. Hawley Printing, Target and Teppers. It's not too late to get involved - give me a call at (309) 579-3026 or stop by our office to pick up registration packets. So what do I have up my sleeve for the future? You can be on the lookout for plans for a fundraiser for Lane Evans at Kelleher's. http://cinewspaper.com/feature2.html janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky pd: 55/41/37 cd: 55/44/43 tel: 613 256 8340 email: [log in to unmask] smail: 375 Country Street, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0 a new voice: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn