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Jeanette, I thought the t-shirt thing was a great idea. Where can I get one? Greg Sterling -----Original Message----- From: Leo Fuhr <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 9:14 AM Subject: Re: Question: Parkinson's Awareness Campaign >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