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Hope for a cure, support in the face of a dreadful disease HOPE FOR A CURE, support in the face of a dreadful disease Monday, October 1, 2007 BY ED McMENAMIN of the Journal Star PEORIA - The umbilical cord - often casually discarded after birth - may play a pivotal role in curing devastating diseases such as Parkinson's. Craig Cady, biology professor at Bradley University, researches stem cells found in umbilical cords and adult bone marrow in hopes of finding a cure. He attended the Shake, Rattle & Roll for Parkinson's disease fundraiser held Sunday on the riverfront. The event featured an ice cream social, a run/walk and a carnival. 'What we're trying to do is influence stem cells to change and function like neurons,' he said. 'The concept is to replace damaged neurons that were destroyed by Parkinson's.' Stem cells are unspecialized cells, with no specific function. They can be manipulated to work in different parts of the body, such as neurons in the brain, he said. 'We are getting very close to clinical trials,' he said. 'We're within five years of reasonable clinical trials where we actually try it on patients.' The annual event, which attracted a few hundred people, was put on by a group called Calipso Connection. Calipso stands for Central Illinois Advocates for Lives Interrupted by Parkinson's Support Organization. President Joan Snyder started the fundraiser six years ago after struggling with the disease herself. 'I thought this was a piece of cake disease,' she said. 'Then suddenly the full force of the disease hit me and I had brain surgery.' During her second brain surgery, a blood vessel was touched and she had stroke on the operating table. 'After the stroke it took me seven months to recover,' she said. 'During that time I decided if anyone does anything about this ... disease, it would have to be me.' She said she expects the event to raise about $20,000. Much of the money will stay here in central Illinois, donated to Peoria's Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and to Cady's research. 'The more funds and support we have, the faster we can do the research,' Cady said. 'It takes time and it takes money, unfortunately.' Walk participants received a T-shirt and butterfly to release at the turn-around point during the walk. A small ceremony featuring Hannah Offutt on guitar and vocals accompanied the release of the butterflies in tribute to loved ones lost to the disease. Live entertainment, food vendors and arts and crafts for sale rounded out the event. Troy Webb, 42, was diagnosed with Parkinson's two years ago and is now Calipso's treasurer. 'I decided I wanted to get involved to help find a cure,' he said. 'It started slowing my fine motor skills on the right side of the body.' Webb is a purchasing agent for a chemical company - work that involves a lot of typing and computer use. 'It's getting harder to type and use a mouse,' he said. 'I'm in the process of purchasing voice-activated software so I don't have to type as much.' He said he doesn't expect a cure in the near future that will help him, but he hopes volunteering with groups like Calipso will help Parkinson's patients in the future. Ed McMenamin can be reached at 686-3196 or [log in to unmask] Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn