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FWD frm CAMR. Please forward on, especially to friends and family in Michigan The following essay appears in the Detroit Free Press. It is authored by Muhammad Ali. Tony MazzaschiAAMC October 24, 2008 Former champ says stem cells could save lives It would be easy to assume that we're unlike most couples in Michigan. A nickname like "The Greatest" - as in heavyweight champion of the world - can do that to you. Though our lives have been uniquely blessed with all that accompanies being recognized as one of the most renowned prize fighters in the world, they are not completely defined by that unique accomplishment. Today our fight is against Parkinson's disease. Once known for his lightning-quick hand speed and fast foot work as a boxer, Muhammad now struggles with the smallest of movements. The neurological disorder afflicts some 6.5 million people worldwide. It is in that daily struggle with incurable disease - a struggle we share with millions of families worldwide, and thousands in Michigan - that our lives may have most powerfully touched the hearts of people everywhere. You likely know of someone with Parkinson's. And if you do, you just as surely know of the family, friends and professionals who care for them, each taking their place on the heroic front line of the battle against debilitating disease. We need more help in our fight against disease, not less. That's why we support Proposal 2 on Michigan's Nov. 4 ballot and urge others to support it, as well. It simply makes good sense to us. A yes vote would allow Michigan fertility patients to donate their excess embryos for research to find life-saving cures. Today those embryos are thrown away. It's time for Michigan to join more than 40 other states in the search for cures. A yes vote would permit Michigan's talented scientists to research desperately needed cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, sickle cell anemia, cancer, multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes and spinal cord injuries. Michigan's sickest citizens, perhaps including your own family members or friends, deserve no less. By expanding embryonic stem cell research - considered the most promising medical inquiry of the 21st century - Michigan could be on the cutting edge of research into cures that disproportionately affect African Americans. There are currently no African-American stem cell lines available for federally funded research, but scientists in Michigan are eager to develop them. They need Michigan voters to approve Proposal 2. As in all the other states that permit it, embryonic stem cell research here would be conducted only under strict federal laws and ethical guidelines. The universities where much of the research would likely be conducted would provide yet another layer of oversight. As anyone who has lived with devastating disease can attest, much strength for the daily struggle comes from the hope for a cure. Leading doctors and medical organizations say that stem cell research is more likely to produce cures for deadly diseases and conditions that any other technique currently in use or even contemplated. We should not let a small group that opposes stem cell research impose their beliefs on the rest of us. On Nov. 4, Michigan voters will be in a position to deliver that hope. Please vote yes on Proposal 2. Muhammad Ali was a three-time boxing heavyweight world champion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn