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Gail and others - The pics are good, but they cannot begin to tell you what a simply wonderful event we had! My first walk was in 2000, walking with Team PLWP (People Living With Parkinson's) as I have done since that date. I had already met some new and forever friends at the PAN Forum a few weeks prior (Gail, Murray & Brenda, etc.), but there they were again at an award ceremony given by PLWP the evening prior to the Walk. It rained the day prior to the Walk, turned very cool the day after, but the skies opened up and smiled nothing but a bright and sunny day on Saturday, April 24th. And although there were some 7,000+ people milling around, I ran into many I knew. I was there cheering when speeches, presentations, and recognitions were made by Martin Tuchman, Ken Aidekman, Bren Tucker & Nan Abraham, the Honorable Carolyn Maloney, Murray Charters, Amy Comstock (PAN), Carol Walton, Robin Elliott (PDF), Dr. Nathan Slewett, Michelle Charlesworth (ABC-TV anchorwoman), and even Michael J. Fox (and others I cannot recall right now). But when Margot Zoebel stepped up to the podium, I experienced a rush of unimaginable emotion. Margot is founder of the Unity Walk and a person living with Parkinson's. I have watched her since 2000 proudly, yet humbly stand and promote raising money for research. I know from my own experience that there have been times that she simply was giving all she had to be there, yet there she was. To me she is an icon of all icons when it comes to PD. What started as an idea "to help fund research" has grown to be of such broader magnitude. The Unity Walk is not only a fundraiser, but a "fun" raiser and a place where families and friends show their loved ones support. It is a place where people network year after year. And finally, it is a place where hope is built. This was the first year that my husband was able to attend. He could feel the spirited atmosphere that I had been telling him about for the past four years. He saw people become charged with enthusiasm and satisfaction in knowing that they were making a difference. Thank you, Margot, for your insight - your motivation -and the tenacity that you and your many, many volunteeers have built in bringing back a bigger and better Parkinson's Unity Walk each year. (Margot's speech at this year's Unity Walk can be found here: http://www.unitywalk.org/margot.shtml ). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn