 |
 |
THE PARKINSON COALITION NEEDS YOUR HELP If you or someone you care about has Parkinson’s Disease, it is important that you read and act upon this plea. THE GOOD NEWS Many of you worked diligently in response to the last request to collect Petitions to get the nation’s first legislation specifically focused on Parkinson’s disease research passed. And, after intensive four-year campaign efforts from grassroots advocacy, the Parkinson’s community successfully celebrated the passage of the Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research & Education Act of 1997. THE BAD NEWS The Udall law ”authorized” the National Institutes of Health to spend $100 million on Parkinson’s-focused research, but did not actually “appropriate” the funds. Therefore, to this date, funding has not been allocated and the NIH continues to pursue an underfunded and unfocused Parkinson’s research program. THE GOOD NEWS You can help the millions living with Parkinson’s and the 60,000 American’s diagnosed every year by making copies of this petition and distributing them to friends and family to do the same. We will take them to Washington. Please return them by June 24, 1999 to the address listed on the Petition or to the Parkinson Coalition 1475 West Gray Houston, Texas 77019.