Hi Everyone,
Much has been happening since the last time I updated the progess of the
ball. It currently consist of over 35,423 feet of material, weighs over
42 pounds and has a 21 inch diameter and 68 inch circumference.We
continue to display it locally as many places as possible. We have
received material from over 25 states, 84 cities and 10 countries. Just
to name a FEW of the latest places is Hawaii, Parkinson's Association of
Ireland in Dublin, a banner from Belgium, thank you (which we will
proudly take with us to New York City in Sept). Iceland has sent us over
4,000 ft of special made string for us. Sharon Culver of the Movement
Disorder Clinic at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has
put up a poster for all their patients to see and contribute to the
ball!
We, of the Parkinson's Support Group of Upstate New York, are also
delighted to announce that the "Ball of String" will be exhibited at New
York's Beth Israel Hospital,in their lobby, before the Unity Walk thanks
to the great effort of Margot Zobel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a group of us going to the Unity Walk in New York City Sept
27th. John and my bags are packed and ready to go !:-) Now to get in
shape for the walk!
On a more serious note we would LOVE to have over 50,000 feet for the
ball to take to New York. Why that amount? Since its impossible to have
millions of feet to represent everyone in the world diagnosed with P.D.
we want to show by the size of the ball how many are diagnosed each year
alone in the U.S.A. Maybe this will create more public awareness.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW. Yes right now, before you delete this message,
find your string, yarn, ribbon any tieable and send it to the address on
the bottom of this note now.
If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.
I will end this with the request for all the new people on this
information exchange.
Subject:PLEASE HELP US WITH OUR IDEA
ATTENTION:PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE, CAREGIVERS, AND EVERYONE WHO
KNOWS AND SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
We (Parkinson's Support Groups of Upstate New York, a chapter of the
National Parkinson's Foundation) HAVE AN IDEA THAT REQUIRES EVERYONE'S
HELP BUT NOT MUCH LABOR!
We are building a symbol for AWARENESS OF PARKINSON'S AROUND THE WORLD.
The symbol is a ball of, we hope millions of feet of tieable material to
represent ONE FOOT AHEAD TOWAREDS A CURE.
With your help this will be achieved. If everyone would send one foot or
more per person in their family (e.g. so if there are 4 members in your
family, it wold be four feet) of tieable material such as string, cord
or yarn and mail it to the address below with your return address.
The objective is to build the biggest ball we can imagine representing
"Across the United States andd around the world we are united in this
effort for awareness, education and a CURE for Parkinson's Disease". We
will be invisible no more!
Our secondary purpose in our battle to fight invisibility is PUBLICITY.
We all know we need a gimmick, the ball is ours, and will become all of
ours with your help! When the post office box is overflowing with the
material you sent this will surely give us a chance to promote awareness
in a highly visible way.
To recap, with your help:
1. Measure enough tieable material to equal l foot per family member.
2. Put it in an envelope with your return address. This is very
important; we want to use this for everybody's benefit. We will
keep a tally of countries and states and include them with the ball.
On request we will send you a copy of all publicity to help in your
efforts.
3. PLEASE PASS THE WORD ALONG TO YOUR RELATIVES, YOUR SUPPORT
GROUPS, FRIENDS AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.
MAIL TO: PARKINSON'S SUPPORT GROUP OF UPSTATE NY or (PSGUNY)
P.O. Box 23204
Rochester New York l4692-3204
(please put ATTENTION:BALL on the envelope)
Donna and John(48/2) Testa
