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Hi everyone, I've been reading with interest about the idea of raising funds for research on our own. I think it's a great thought but making pledges and sending payments monthly generates a lot of paperwork. What do you think of designating one or two research facilities to receive our funds and have everyone send a one-time donation during the same week in December. I have an idea that I think might work: 1. Perhaps Barbara Patterson could select 4 or 5 people on the list who have been in the PD community for a long time. They could select one or more recipients of the funds and notify the institution that donations would be arriving during a selected week from our group. All funds received would be earmarked for research only. 2. We should aim for no less than 100% participation. Each of you on the list should make a donation of whatever amount you can afford, be it $1000 or $1. The main idea is that everyone participates. 3. If you are working you should ask your employer about matching funds. If you belong to a support group, you could ask other PWP's or caregivers for donations. If you see a PD specialist or go to a PD clinic, ask if you can put a collection jar at their front desk for donations, all monies to be sent in the same week to the same research institution(s). 4. At the end of our donation week, we should contact our representatives in the House, Senate, Parliament, etc. and tell them about our 100% fund raising achievement. Then we ask them for a comment to use in our press release. This achieves two results: their comments make it more likely that we'll get media coverage and it puts our representatives down in print as solidly in favor of Parkinson's research (which will come in handy when we're trying to rally support for the Udall Bill in the next legislative session. We must be sure to ask Gingrich, Blilly, Bilirakis and Smith for their comments. 5. Next we begin a media blitz. Each person on the list sends a press release (titled something like, "International Parkinson's Community Takes Matters into Their Own Hands") to their local newspapers, TV stations, etc. [I've done a fair amount of publicity work and would be happy to write a press release for anyone who would like it]. In the press release we talk about the Udall Bill and our disappointment when it didn't get out of committee in the House, our frustration with the government spending vast sums of money on maintainance of PWP's and so little on research that might effect a cure. We bring up the fact that this is an international effort started by the PARKINSN listserv., who are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, and we mention that research for PD is likely to open the door to advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's, ALS and other brain disorders. I bet if we got the ball rolling, it would snowball. Look what the people with AIDS have done in promoting awareness, support, and funds for their cause! We could do the same. I read somewhere that PWP's generally have laid-back, easy-going personalities. Maybe that's been our problem. What do you think? Is it worth a try? Mary Sheehan