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hi Friends: Per Barb 's request to mail our leaders I have sent the following letter= to Senator McClain, Congressman Upton and Senator D'Amato.=20 It is easy to do if you have a word processor. Once you have written the = body of the letter just change the heading for additional receipents. I am now= in the process of sending a letter to all who have signed on. see Barb's pri= or post With a little chane in the first paragraph you can restructure the letter= to any party who has not signed on.=20 Help the cause send as many letters as you can today since offices are closed and you can not call Congress man today. Of course you should alter the facts to fit your situation. April 1, 1997 Honorable John McCain 241 Russell SOB United States Senate Washington, DC. 20510 Dear Senator McCain: Thank you for your support and leadership on behalf of people with Parkinson=92s Disease. At the age of forty-nine I was stricken with Parkinson=92s Disease. I man= aged to continue working till I retired last year at the age of fifty-six. I = was earning about $ 000,000.00 per year as a trial attorney. My disability and those with early onset of the disease place a heavy financial burden on the Government and the private sector. I am applying = for Social Security Disability plus private disability plans. My medical cost= s are $ 18,000.00 plus per year and in two years my medical costs will be another burden on the Social Security trust funds. I estimate that the co= st of my illness to society will exceed $ 0.000,000 if I live to age sixty-seven when I would normally retire. I also notice on the internet that Parkinson=92s Disease is striking you= nger and younger people and that the mean age of diagnosis is now fifty-seven years old. If this trend continues, more people will be receiving Social Security Trust Funds at an early age and fewer people than expected maki= ng contributions. As I attend support group meetings, I see many people drained of energy, strength and who are unable to articulate their plight. Scientists and researcher s express the possibility of new medicines and a cure if more research dollars are invested as proposed by the Parkinson=92s Bill. Lets= apply more research funds to keep people with Parkinson=92s Disease working lon= ger and leading a healthier life. =20 For those who no longer can speak for themselves and myself, I wish to t= hank you for your support. Very truly yours, A. Dale Severance