Hi Listfriends,
this article was on the frontpage of the local news of the Waco Tribune
Herald, on Saturday, June 20, 1998.
Waco man fights for research
Parkinson's patient lobbies for $100 million
By Eunice Moscoso
Cox News Service
WASHINGTON - Waco resident Kees Paap came to the nation's capital this
week to ask Congress for $100 million.
As a member of the Parkinon's Action Network, he met with members of
Congress and Congressional staff in hopes of securing research money to
combat the disease.
"We are close to finding a cause ," said Paap, 48 , who was diagnosed
with Parkinson's nine years ago. "It takes tons of energy to come here and
fight, but it's worth it."
About 1 million Americans are estimated to have Parkinson's Disease, a
slow degenerative disease that effects nerve cells in the brain. It causes
tremors, muscle stiffness and loss of motorfunctions.
Those suffering from the disease include Attorney General Janet Reno,
boxing legend Muhammad Ali, country singer Johnny Cash and pope John Paul II.
The Parkinson's Action Network , a California-based information and
advocacy group, held a four-day public forum in Washington this week.
Paap came to the forum with his wife, Faye Armstrong, a general surgeon in
Waco.
Last year, Congres approved legislating authorizing $100 million for
research into Parkinson's disease. The legislation was named for the former
Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona, who has Parkinson's. But in fiscal 1997,
Congress appropriated only $34 million.
In hopes of getting the full $100 million this year, Paap and other
advocates gatherered signatures
please see DISEASE, page 2B
DISEASE
Senator hoping money will come
From Page 1B
and letters and delivered them to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas,
They also met with other members of Congress and showed them an
emotional video about three families coping with the disease.
Robert Martone, with the Houston Area Parkinson's Society, said in a
letter to Hutchison that within the next three decades, the number of
Parkinson's patients can grow to as many as 10 million as the Baby Boomers
move into the years most offen associated with the disease.
This demographic surge is not far away, as the average age of diagnosis is
57 years, Martone said.
Hutchison told Paap and other advocates Thursday that she will try to
help them secure the money, but that it is hard to predict what the
Congress will do.
"I'm cautiously optimistic,"Hutchison said.
