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Everytime a pwp writes a letter to the editor, or asks a clerk in a store, "Could you fill out this check for me, I have Parkinson's Disease and at this moment my muscles are rigid/tremoring and I'm not able to write clearly.", or comments at work or when in social settings, "Did you see Michael J. Fox, Lynda McKenzie, Jim Finn et al on the television last week talking about funding for FY2000 to support Parkinson's research, or speaking about the experimental surgery to allow her/him to regain use of muscles that had been keeping her/him immobile due to Parkinson's disease?" the awareness level of someone is being raised. Hopefully, that person will comment to peers and family and the awareness will continue to grow. When I pay for groceries, I don't conceal my Medical Alert card that states that" I'm not drunk....I have Parkinson's disease", especially if it's a day/time when I'm having difficulty getting either cash, change or even getting my fingers to slide the plastic credit card from the plastic sleeve of my wallet. I want those waiting and watching my struggle to be aware that it's Parkinson's symptoms that slow me down and I hope that awareness might expand that person's knowledge about a disease that shows no favorites and can strike anyone of any age, race or sex in any country of the world. I wear my T-Shirt that asks, "Do you know someone that has Parkinson's?" on the back to walk the inside track at the community center. When the shirt, a letter I've written to the editor, or my struggling to pay at the retail counter causes someone to ask a question or ask how I'm feeling or if I need help.....I try to respond positively but in a way that teaches the person asking the question that having Parkinson's isn't fun and those with the disease are trying to advocate for research funding increases to hopefully find both a cure and a cause that may allow prevention of Parkinson's disease in the future. Friends, family and members of church and organizations or groups I or my husband are part of are often asked by me to sign petitions, write or call congress asking for increased funding for focused Parkinson's research. The mayor of my community is married to a sorority sister and he signed a proclaimation for "Parkinson's Awareness Month" in April and he and a group of my sorority sisters posed for a picture that was run in the local newspaper. Any of these kind of actions are ways of educating others about Parkinson's disease. My" Pennies for Parkinson's "jar has been passed at organization meetings, health fairs, support group meetings and labels for jars have been given to interested persons who periodically give me collected monies to forward to fund research. I joined Jerry Finch's WebRing for PWP(people with parkinson's)and have written about my own experience with Parkinson's and have e-mailed persons who responded to reading that story. Information and ideas from the PIEN list inspire and challenge me to do more to spread the story about Parkinson's disease. Jeanette Fuhr 49/47/44? <[log in to unmask]> ---------- From: Edie Luther. <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Question: Parkinson's Awareness Campaign Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 7:02 AM Getting the word out to the public, not just the pwp's, is exactly why our support group had a flea market last year, and we are planning more activities which will bring the public to awareness We had a group of students from a private school collect money and about 20 of them come to our walk-a-thon. I feel we are becoming more and more acknowledged. A principal of a public school stopped my husband and said, "I saw you and your wife on tv last night. Parkinson's Disease is a nasty disease,." She gave a donation. We also are included in medical programs. I agree we need more awareness, but we have come a long way in the last couple of years to make the public aware of this dreadful disease and the fact that this disease also attacks the young. Edie Luther