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315-682-3161 DALE SEVERANCE 315-682-3161 1 Handhewn Way Manlius, NY 13104 March 17, 1997 Dear Support Member: My name is Dale Severance and I am a new member of the Syracuse Support Group. I was born and raised in Syracuse but left town at the age of sixteen and did not return until March 1, 1997. I am 56 years old and have had Parkinson’s Disease for nine years. I was a lawyer with my own firm practicing Worker’s Compensation Law for thirty three years in Brooklyn, New York. Parkinson’s Disease in conjunction with a back injury finally compelled me to retire on December 23, 1996. I still had some energy left so I began searching for an outlet for my spare time.. I joined a support group sponsored by the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation associated with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. While attending meetings there I became aware of the inequitable distribution of Federal Funds for Parkinson’s Disease research. I decided to become active in the political process to help secure the passage in 1997 of the Udall PD research Bill by both Houses of Congress.. I now spend as much of my on time as possible with PD lobbying activities. I am in frequent contact with the leaders of the political movement and with PAN ( Parkinson Action Network) to stay current and to assist the lobbying effort.. The Bill will be publicly presented to Congress on April 9, 1997 when Congress returns from recess. I am writing this letter to encourage you to attend the next support meeting on April 8, 1997. Please try and attend it will be a very informative meeting. Marion will report on the Rochester Symposium we attended last Saturday and I will bring everyone up to date on the Political Movement. By the way both NY Senators have agreed to cosponsor the Bill. If you can not attend please call me and I will bring you up to speed. I still drive and if you can travel by car, but you ride is unavailable, call me and I will be glad to bring you to the meeting. Now I am asking a favor from you. Our local Representative Jim Walsh has not agreed to sponsor the bill in Congress. I have called his office in Washington to make an appointment to visit him at his Syracuse Office to discuss his failure to support the bill. I want to look him in the eyes and challenge him to say no to a group of handicapped constituents. I would like as many of you, your care divers,your family members and friends to join me there to tell him how PD has devestitated our lives. The appointment will be at his office in the Federal building in downtown Syracuse NY. Between March 23, 1997 and April 9, 1997. Please call me at 1-315-682-3161 if there is any possibility of your joining the group going to see Rep. Walsh. This is really important. You can still help even if you can not attend. Call me and I will have suggestions for you. Don’t wait for your ship to come in row out to meet it.......now is the chance to make a meaningful change in our life stiles. There are too many of us marching to the wheel chair and eventually an invalid status. We can change that process with medical research dollars. We are close to new medicines, surgical procedures and possible a cure. Participate now Call Me. 315-682-3161 Dale Severance.