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Contact: Alison Landes For Immediate Release 561.488.0095 / 954.675.4106 MAYORS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE “SUPPORTING PARKINSON’S AWARENESS” RESOLUTION AT THE RECENT U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ANNUAL MEETING IN ADDITION TO CONTACTING SENATORS DIRECTLY, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION URGES ADVOCATES TO CALL, WRITE A LETTER AND FAX OR DROP BY THEIR MAYOR’S OFFICE MONDAY IN CITIES NATIONWIDE FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN URGING SENATORS TO VOTE FOR H.R.810 ON TUESDAY JULY 18. LAS VEGAS, NV - At the recent 74th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas, Nevada, mayors unanimously passed the “ Supporting Parkinson’s Awareness” resolution. Sponsored by Mayor Irma Anderson, of the City of Richmond, California, the Chair of the Children, Health and Human Services Committee, the resolution was formulated in partnership with Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc. (TCCP), an Allied Council Member, based in Boca Raton, Florida. The resolution sponsored by Mayor Anderson received the support of cosponsors Mayors Ron Swegles, Sunnyvale, California, Beverly Johnson, Alameda, California, Shirley Franklin, Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Chavez, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Oscar B. Goodman, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Sheila Young of San Leandro, California. At this time, when advocates around the country are urging their Senators to pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R.810), with no amendments and no alternatives, TCCP rejoices in the Mayors’ stand for the Resolution which urges Mayors to support efforts in their communities to advocate and advance research to find better treatments and cures for Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. The Resolution further states that Mayors reaffirm their support to educate all citizens about the possibilities in the research field into causes, treatments and cures so that many voices can be heard to facilitate passage of needed legislation for those suffering with these extremely debilitating and neurological impairments. “We thank Mayor Irma Anderson for taking the lead on this resolution. Mayors are the elected officials closest to the constituents of communities nationwide. The resolution, “Supporting Parkinson’s Awareness” provides a vehicle from which citizens can engage in conversation with their mayors and fellow citizens about the nuances of stem cell research and what it means to them and their loved ones,” said Alison Landes, founder and president of Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc. Landes’ sister, Fran Landes, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1998 in her mid-forties. “In addition to contacting your Senators directly, enlist your mayor’s support in making your Senator aware of how many people in your community want H.R.810 to pass.” “The resolution speaks of quality of life and improved treatments and cures,” said Landes. “With Mayors weighing in on the resolution with an affirmative vote, it is well positioned to open and engage in a conversation about the nuances of the science that has baffled so many citizens with the complexities. C-span will carry coverage of the debates on Monday July 17. With 1.5 million Parkinson’s patients in the United States and an additional 60,000 cases diagnosed annually, combined with over 70 diseases impacting the lives of over 100 million Americans suffering with diseases and spinal cord injuries, many of which could conceivably be cured with the promise of stem cell research, the debates on Monday are critical to determining how our nation will proceed with this research. H.R. 810 passed in the House of Representatives a year ago. Senator Frist has brought all sides to agree to a 12 hour hearing on 3 bills: Of the bills being considered simultaneously, only H.R.810 holds promise for expanding medical breakthroughs and will move stem cell research forward in our country. The other two bills – the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act (S. 2754) and the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act (S. 3504) – are NOT substitutes for a YES vote on H.R. 810. It will be a straight up and down vote on each of the three bills, with no amendments allowed-said stipulation agreed to by all 100 senators. It is said that more than 70% of the people of the United States support embryonic stem cell research. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act passed the House of Representatives. We need 60 Senators to vote in its favor. If the President vetoes it, as he has promised to do, 67 Senators’ votes are needed to override that veto. And then, 2/3 majority in the House of Representatives would also be needed to override the White House decision. In support of its mission to empower people with Parkinson’s through information and education, log on to _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/) for resources and links about the nuances of stem cell research. At the site, visitors can also access a wealth of information written and compiled by internationally renowned Dr. Abraham Lieberman who answers questions on line and shares his insights, expertise and compassion with thousands seeking information nationwide and internationally. Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc. is a 501 (C)(3) organization founded in December 1999. Its mission is to empower people with Parkinson’s and their care partners to increase awareness and understanding through education and advocacy, to improve quality of life and support research efforts to find a cure. The United States Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor. (_www.usmayors.org_ (http://www.usmayors.org/) ) - End – NOTE: The Resolution passed at the 74th Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV is below or available at http://usmayors.org/uscm/resolutions/74th_conference/resolutions_adopted_2006.pdf. Names and numbers for additional advocates, patients, care partners are available. SUPPORTING PARKINSON’S AWARENESS WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted a Parkinson’s Resolution at the 71st Conference in Denver, Colorado, calling for Mayors to support efforts to increase awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s Disease and to promote advocacy, education, quality of life and research to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions; and WHEREAS the Parkinson’s Resolution adopted at the 71st Annual Conference of Mayors indicated BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors urges its members to support collaborative events throughout the year, with special emphasis on the month of April, which is the International Parkinson’s Awareness Month and includes a world-wide Parkinson’s Awareness Week and Parkinson’s Awareness Day, and WHEREAS according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), there are approximately 1.5 million people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the United States with 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, with 10% of these individuals being “young onset”; and WHEREAS, the extremely debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease continue to plague the lives of patients and their care partners, and available treatments only temporarily relieve symptoms, and in time lose effectiveness, impairing with their side effects, quality of life, as much as the disease itself and WHEREAS, it has been estimated that the impact of Parkinson’s disease is roughly $25 billion a year in the United States in health costs and lost productivity, especially for those diagnosed with “young onset,” who face difficulties maintaining employment, health and disability coverage; in addition to costs from $2,000 - $7,000 per year in the early stages, as the disease progresses, treatment and hospitalizations can run in excess of $40,000, disability subsidies can cost $30,000 and assisted living or nursing home care can exceed $100,000 per year per patient and; WHEREAS, many of those with Parkinson’s become incapacitated for many years and a similar number of family members are often diverted from the workforce as a result of their role as caregiver, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors urges all mayors to support efforts in their communities to advocate and advance research to find better treatments and cures for Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors reaffirms its support to educate all citizens about the possibilities in the research field into causes, treatments and cures, so that many voices can be heard to facilitate passage of needed legislation for those suffering with these extremely debilitating and neurological impairments. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn