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Hello All: Margaret Tuchman mentioned the letter that Muhammad Ali sent in regard to the Parkinson's Unity Walk last year in New York. Ken Aidekman posted it to the list last December, and I have dug it out of the Paterson archives for all to enjoy. I'll put together a summary of what I've assembled, for you all to review, before I send anything on to him. If any of you have any further messages for him, please forward them to me. Janet ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 Dec 1995 12:15:56 -0500 From: Ken Aidekman <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Ali ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Muhammad Ali has Parkinson's. What caused it and whether one chooses to call it Parkinson's Syndrome or Parkinson's Disease does not change the fact that he suffers from his condition as much as anyone with PD. He has also done more than his share for the Parkinson's community in recent years. I am personally grateful for his help. The following letter was sent in response to a request from the Parkinson's Unity Walk committee: *************************************** To all of you gathered here today: First, let me begin by saying I am glad all of you are here even though I couldn't be. It is extremely important for all of us in the fight against Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Syndrome to participate in events that promote awareness such as today's proclamation of Parkinson's Awareness Month in New York and Sunday's Parkinson's Unity Walk in Riverside Park. Without people like you, we would be miles away from finding the cause and cure of this dehumanizing disease. Today, I truly believe we are just steps away. To paraphrase one of the nation's top Parkinson's researchers and someone who made a believer out of me, "The answer to Parkinson's is simply a function of money - - finding the money needed to fund the research that is necessary to bring this disease out of the closet, if you will, and into the light." Most Americans know little if anything about Parkinson's Disease, although almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by its curse. My message to you today is: WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. We are stepping into the light. Every month we are learning of new procedures, new findings and new techniques that bring us closer to the end of the tunnel. Everyday we step a little closer. Surely, most of you here know that we are a lot closer to that end than we were five years ago or even eighteen months ago. I congratulate and applaud everyone of you in this world and those who have departed, who have suffered from the ravages of Parkinson's and have had the courage to go on with life - - suffering silently; desperately trying to hang on to whatever normalcy you can in your daily living. I also applaud the care givers of those afflicted: the spouses, children, family and friends. Theirs' is a burden none can describe, for it is day in and day out. Relief only comes when their loved one is sound asleep and not shaken by the most obvious symptom of this disease--constant tremors. Without them, life would surely become meaningless for most of us. And let us not forget the doctors and researchers that have dedicated their lives to finding a cause and a cure. They have spent long hours in their pursuits. Let them know, those hours were not thankless. With them our victory is assured, without them, our defeat would be inevitable. I also would like to extend a special thanks to the lawmakers and politicians who recognize that Parkinson's Disease, like any other disease, deserves national attention as well as federal and state funding for research. It is important that every lawmaker realize that this is one disease that can be stopped - - it is strictly a function of dollars - - dollars that are desperately needed now, today - - not later. Let them remember, Parkinson's is a bi-partisan, non-racial and non-denominational affliction. It is ignorant of social and economic standing and it strikes the young as well as the old. Together and united we can knock this disease out once and for all. Thank you very much and please know that even though I am not here in person, I am very much with you in spirit. May God bless you all. Muhammad Ali ************************************** Happy Holidays, Ken Aidekman Fund the Research. Find the Cure. -------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask]