^^^^^^GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ Ivan Suzman 47/10 [log in to unmask] Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 45 deg. F daffodils opening *********************************************************** Barbara and listmembers, Thank you for posting Lonnie Ali's testimony on behalf of both her husband and herself. I am going to try to get it republished in local newsletters. Does anyone know what address to use to thank the Ali's for their PD work?? Is there an e-mail or snail-mail address that Lonnie and Muhammad Ali provide to PWP's?? Ivan Suzman On Fri, 25 Apr 1997 15:32:25 -0400 [log in to unmask] writes: >Testimony of Muhammad and Lonnie Ali before the House Appropriations >Subcommittee for the Departments of Labor, Health & Human Services, >Education >and Related Agencies > >April 23, 1997 > > Mr. Chairman and members of this committee. My name is Lonnie >Ali and I >am accompanied by my husband Muhammad Ali whom I'm sure needs no >introduction. The fact that I am the one speaking to you this morning >and >not Muhammad is one of the principal reasons that we are here today. > >I am sure all of you know Muhammad suffers from Parkinson's disease, a >progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has robbed him of one of >his most >prized functions... his voice, and the ability to speak clearly with >resonance. I believe all of you remember Muhammad's pre-Parkinson >days when >he moved millions with his vibrant voice and poetic expression. In >fact, >Muhammad was so vocal that he was dubbed the "Louisville Lip" shortly >after >joining the professional ranks of boxing. > >My experience as a Parkinson caregiver has given me greater >understanding >about this disease and how it can devastate not only its victims, but >also >family and friends as well. Thanks to Muhammad and the National >Parkinson >Foundation, I have had the opportunity to share my story as a >caregiver with >hundreds of others in Parkinson support groups. More importantly, >they have >had the opportunity to share with me, there own personal stories of >economic >and emotional tragedy and hardship this terrible disease has brought >them. > >In the course of our travels, I have met hundreds of Parkinson >patients, some >worse off than Muhammad and some not as affected. Muhammad and I have >come >away from these experiences with the resolve to help in any way we can >to >advance the research that will hasten the cure for Parkinson's >disease. > >Muhammad and I are committed to participate in fundraisers that focus >on >raising funds for medical research and tonight Muhammad is being >honored at >such an event in Washington that is being sponsored by the Capital >Chapter of >the National Parkinson Foundation chaired by your colleague, Joe >McDade, who >also suffers from Parkinson's disease. Our special guest will be >Senator >John McCain. I would like to extend a personal invitation to each of >you to >join us. > >As you will hear from Mr. Nathan Slewett, Chairman of the National >Parkinson Foundation, the money raised goes to support some of the >finest >Parkinson's research in the world. > >But, I can tell you first hand, more is needed! The resources of the >National Institutes of Health can not be matched by private >philanthropy. > NIH, whose appropriations your committee approves, is supporting a >large >amount of Parkinson's research...but not enough considering the >research >opportunities currently at hand. I have been advised by some of the >top >Parkinson's researchers that a significant infusion of federal funds >allocated to Parkinson's research will surely hasten the cure that >Muhammad >and thousands of others could personally benefit from. Please >consider that >fact when you markup this years appropriations bill. > >Even more importantly, I want to urge that you focus on the Morris K. >Udall >Parkinson's Research bill, which authorizes a $100 million for >Parkinson's >disease research in the next fiscal year. Muhammad and I are asking >each of >you become a cosponsor of this legislation, which was just >reintroduced only >two weeks ago; and when it is enacted into law, which it will be, >appropriate >the funds that it calls for so that we can rid ourselves of this >devastating >illness. > >Before I finish my remarks, I would like all of you to know that >Muhammad was >unwilling to speak out and help in this fight to conquer Parkinson's >disease >until recently when it became apparent that he might be able to make a >difference. I think you will agree he has. > >Please consider our request and pleas for your help. > >Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for providing us the opportunity to appear >before >you today. >