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The 1996 Parkinson's Unity Walk is history. Over 600 walkers participated on a sunny September Sunday in New York. Preliminary estimates put the total funds raised at over $85,000. However, the most important result can not be measured in numbers. The greatest product of the walk was the raising of collective spirits and a renewed sense of commitment to work towards finding a cure. Camaraderie and friendship was the order of the day reinforced by good music, healthy exercise, tasty refreshments and great weather. Inspirational music was provided by the Julliard Brass Quintet which played beautifully at registration and at the conclusion of the Walk. Bill Grant, former Mr. America and Mr. World, prepared participants with rigorous pre-walk stretching exercises. Former CBS-TV Science Editor and Unity Walk Vice-President, Earl Ubell, introduced Anne Meara, Honorary Co-Chair and prettier half of the comedy team of Stiller & Meara. She currently appears on ABC's "All My Children" and was featured last week in an episode of the dramatic television series "Homicide". During the last year she starred in "Afterplay" a critically aclaimed Off-Broadway production which she also wrote and directed. Her husband and partner, Jerry Stiller, was busy in Los Angeles taping an episode of "The Jerry Seinfeld Show" in which he appears as George Costanza's inimitable, if not unbearable, father. Meara began her remarks with thanks to her good friend Earl Ubell and heartfelt comments about her own personal contact with the scourge of PD. Walkers proceeded en masse behind the Unity Walk banner from the start at Soldiers and Sailors Monument along Riverside Drive all the way up to Grant's Memorial at122nd Street. As they crossed the finish line they were greeted with a fanfare by the Julliard Quintet and handed goody bags filled with helpful literature and items contributed by sponsors. Ken Aidekman, Chairman of the Parkinson's Unity Walk, began the ceremonies with thanks to Margot Zobel and the many volunteers who helped make the event a success. Dr. Bud Rowland, President of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation welcomed the crowd, discussed the contributions of PDF to research and reiterated his hope that the national Parkinson's organizations can unite in the future to cure PD. Joan Samuelson, political activist and president of the Parkinson's Action Network, discussed the current prospects for pro-PD legislation. Despite disappointment with the failure of Congress to take action on a bill that would increase research spending in1997, Samuelson maintained that our elected representatives are finally hearing the message loud and clear. The Parkinson's community is no longer invisible and we will not be denied its fair share of research resources. Keynote Speaker, Dr. William Langston, founder and president of the Parkinson's Institute and author of "The Case of the Frozen Addicts", reviewed and explained the many prospective new weapons in the growing arsenal used to treat PD. He was upbeat about future results from research at PI involving the largest longterm twin study ever undertaken. Langston thanked the gathering for providing scientists with the incentive and motivation to continue with their difficult and often frustrating line of work. The 1996 Parkinson's Unity Walk was dedicated to the memory of Alan Bonander. Alan was a young-onset support group president, a Parkinson's political activist, a patient advocate, and a genuine friend to thousands of people in the Parkinson's community. Some were lucky enough to have spent time with him in person. Still many of the rest of us developed a true friendship with him via computerized correspondence and telephone conversations. Alan never stopped questioning. Never stopped giving. He never turned away someone in need. We will miss him terribly. The organizers of the Parkinson's Unity Walk welcome your comments and suggestions about how to make the 1997 Walk even more fun and rewarding. Please send us your remarks (FAX: 212-496-8639, E-Mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]). We can always use your help in areas where you can provide a unique contribution to the Walk and the Parkinson's community in general. Many thanks again to all of our sponsors, especially our Platinum corporate sponsors: The Chase Manhattan Corporation, Coopers & Lybrand, Dupont Pharma & Somerset Pharmaceuticals. All contributions have been designated for scientific research directed by the American Parkinson's Disease Association, National Parkinson Foundation, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Parkinson's Institute and United Parkinson Foundation.