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Let's try everything. Here's a longshot for you, but what the heck! Barb Brock 4309 Birch Run Drive Troy, MI 48098 May 26, 1998 Story Suggestions Dateline NBC Room 510 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, N Y 10112 RE: Story Suggestion - "It Doesn't Always Happen to Someone Else" OR "Imagine" OR "If You Want to See Parkinson's, Don't Look at Janet Reno; Visit Mo Udall" Four long years ago, Parkinsonians and their caregivers launched a magnificent effort to pass the Morris K. Udall Bill for Parkinson's Research and Education. In November 1997, the Bill was finally enacted as part of a larger appropriations measure. The Parkinson's community rejoiced, thinking that at long last the $100 million approved for research would soon be granted. Parkinson's Disease, a disease that affects between 1 and 2 million people in the United States today, stands to affect many more when the Baby Boomers, now age 51, reach 57, the average age of diagnosis. To date, the Morris K. Udall Act has still not been funded. There have been speeches before Congress, letters to editors and congressmen, and now there is to be a meeting of PAN, the Parkinson Action Network, in Washington, DC at the Hotel Washington, 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., June 14th - June 17th. While many in the Parkinson's community are too incapacitated to participate in political activities such as this, those who know about it and who are able and can afford to participate, either from their own resources or from grants made available to them by their support groups, will descend on lawmakers to try to make their voices, impaired by the ravages of the disease, heard. Their battle could be quite a story and could also be part of a larger story on how NIH is not stepping up to the neurological diseases associated with advancing age which could easily become the scourge of the Baby Boomers. Could this be a repeat of "And the Band Played On?" There is a window of opportunity now that may not be there as Parkinson's and the other neurodegenerative diseases become more prevalent. Does the problem have to grow to 10 million Parkinson's patients and their caregivers, the potential number of Baby Boomers who could be affected, for NIH to fund the Act? Must the U. S. continue to spend $25 Billion annually (the cost of Parkinson's in direct and indirect costs in 1994 dollars, according to a study by Duke University) and far more with every passing year on a disease for which many researchers believe there could be a cure within five years, if funded properly? Our national security is at stake. Imagine 10 million Parkinson's patients and their caregivers. Add to that the other neurodegenerative diseases (the movement disorders and Alzheimer's) and the problem increases exponentially. Imagine the impact on the younger and future generations. Imagine. If we as a nation are to remain a world power, we need to be healthy. Think about it. Sincerely, Barbara T. Brock, MA Special Educator and wife of a person with Parkinson's (248) 641-0054