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Hi, Below is an article that I am sending to local newspapers. Please feel free to use it or any part of it. You can substitute names if you like. PARKISNONS' DISEASE ADVOCATE GOES TO WASHINGTON D.C. The Willamette-Columbia Parkinsonian Society (Will-Cope of Oregon and southern Washington) recently sent a representative to Washington D.C. to alert Congressmen to the need for fully funding of the Udall Bill for Parkinson's Disease research which was passed into law in 1997 but has yet not been funded for specific Parkinson's research as intended. The last week of June found Parkinson's Disease advocates walking and riding the halls of elected officials in Washington asking that the Udall Bill for Parkinson's research be fully funded in the year 2000. Many were riding in wheelchairs because they are no longer able to walk and many of others walking used canes. Currently there are over one million afflicted with this neurological disease. Oregon legislator Darlene Hooley was asked to do all she can to see that the Udall Act is fully funded for direct Parkinson's research. Senators Wyden and Smith and Representative David Wu have signed a letter to the head of the National Institute, Dr. Varmus, asking that the Udall money when approved be spent on Parkinson's focused research. Parkinson's Disease is a neurological disease that ultimately robs those afflicted with movement and speech and is caused by loss of a neurological chemical called dopamine. Scientists have stated that this disease is the one neurological disease that can be cured and that the research obtained will lead to cures for other neurological diseases. According to Dr. Ole Isacson of Harvard, Parkinson's cost America an estimated $25 billion a year. Costs are spread among afflicted families, health and disability benefit providers, SSI, SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid. The following were facts about Parkinson's Disease that were presented to our national legislators: • Of those one million Americans currently afflicted 30% of those are under age 50. • Approximately three million more have at risk, pre-symptomatic dopamine cell loss. • One person diagnosed every nine minutes. • The National Institute of Health (NIH) has not fulfilled the promise of the Udall Act-funding falls far short of what Congress required. • Evaluations of NIH spending for Parkinson's disease research for the last two years by leading Parkinson researchers show that NIH spends far less than it has reported spending on direct Parkinsons's research. • Only Congress can ensure that the NIH program is adequately funded by designating the proper funds for Parkinson's focused research. Oregon legislator Darlene Hooley was visited and asked to do all she can to see that the Udall Bill be fully funded. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith and Representative David Wu have signed a letter to the head of NIH asking that the Udall money when approved be spent on Parkinson's focussed research. For more information on Will Cope please call 503 413-7717 or 800 485-7384. Will Cope will continue to visit, write and phone legislators until better treatments, medications and a cure are found. Helen Mason BSN