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Dear Fellow List Members, Thought you might have some interest in my latest attempt to get Udall off the ground. A friend and I are preparing petitions and have prepared the following information sheet for petitioners and others who then might wish to write to their congressman or senators. Have just completed the info sheet and am now working on the petitions. Would like your feedback. Here goes something, I hope. Parkinson's Disease q Is a progressive degenerative neurological disease. q Is caused by the death of dopamine producing cells in the brain. q Is characterized by tremor, stiffness and rigidity, slowness of movement, unwanted movement, and voice and fluency problems. q Can render victims in the end stages of the disease unable to move, talk, or swallow. q Has an average age of diagnosis of 57, though 1/3 are below this age. q Presently affects more than 1,000,000 people in the United States. q Is thought to be significantly under-diagnosed. q Can be expected to increase many-fold as the "Baby Boom" ages. q Cannot be predicted. q Exacts incalculable human suffering and a tremendous strain on federal entitlement programs. q Costs society $25,000,000,000 in indirect and direct costs (Duke University), yet is significantly under-funded when compared to the other neuro-degenerative diseases. q Has been called one of the brightest spots in brain research. q May hold the keys to other neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and MS. Famous People Living with Parkinson's Pope John Paul Billy Graham Janet Reno Muhammad Ali Johnny Cash Morris K. Udall The Problem In 1997, the Morris K. Udall Research and Education Act was enacted and authorized $100,000,000 a year as a timely recognition of the huge potential in this field and as recognition that we as a society cannot continue to take a reactive, rather than a proactive stance. To date, the Act has not been funded. Support is needed to fully fund this important initiative now. While many with Parkinson's cannot, you can make your voice heard. Signing this petition and writing your U. S. Senators and Representative to ask for full funding for Parkinson's research and education NOW will benefit not only those already diagnosed, but countless others in whom the death of the dopamine producing cells of the brain that are responsible for the ability to move has already begun. Whether we like it or not, we are all at least indirectly affected by Parkinson's fiscally. It is thought that all of those fortunate to live long enough will have some symptoms of it. Investing in Parkinson's NOW is an investment in the future. _________________________ Barb Brock 53 cg Art 56/1 year