Happy Spring!

Happy Parkinson’s Awareness Month!

Yes, April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month when people who deal with PD as part of their everyday lives, try to bring focus to the disease to raise public awareness about what it does to people, both patients and families, and what can be done to help.

Why April? Well for one thing, Dr. James Parkinson, the physician who first described the disease in 1817 and after whom it is named, was born in April. His “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” began the written history of PD. And in February, 2006, the most recent chapter of PD history was written with the holding of the first World Parkinson Congress which ran from February 22 - 26 in Washington DC. Pat and Marge Moylan attended as representatives of CNYPSG, Inc. The following is Marge’s report on the event.

The significance of this first-time gathering of all parties with a serious and sustained interest in Parkinson’s disease is enormous. The thousands of participants who gathered in the DC Convention Center, coming from all corners of the planet, shared a single common goal: finding a cure for PD.

Who was in attendance? The Congress was made up of the scientists who do the research, the doctors, nurses, therapists and other medical professionals who treat PD patients, the patients themselves, and the people in their support systems: caregivers, spouses, children, other family members, friends. In other words, all the people who need to work together to make that cure a reality. There was an atmosphere of excitement at the Convention Center, especially on the first night at the Opening Ceremony. The attitude of hope was so strong in that hall, you could almost reach out and touch it.

We were welcomed by Dr. Stanley Fahn, overall chair for the entire Congress, and were treated to a fine array of speakers including Morton Kondrake, author of Saving Milly and Oliver Sacks author of Awakenings. But the real star was actor Michael J. Fox who received a standing ovation on his entrance as well at the end of his talk. He spoke of the work his foundation is doing, especially in funding some of the smaller research projects that don’t qualify for federal research grants. His message of hope came through loud and clear as he remarked, “We don’t need another pill. We need a cure!”

The offerings of the Congress were immense. You had to pick and choose. There were scientific and community sessions running concurrently all day long, with many workshops as well.

Another feature of the Congress was the Creativity and Parkinson’s area celebrating the connection between the two with an exhibit of works of art done by people with Parkinson’s. This included art of all types, visual , fine, and performing arts. This is what had drawn my attention in the first place. Poetry was one of the categories in the creativity display. Ed McCaffrey and I both entered some of our poetry and both of us had one chosen for the exhibit. The creativity corner was always abuzz with activity. I had signed us up to do a poetry reading for one afternoon, but we ended up doing three different ones as they added some in the evenings also.

For me, experiencing this Congress was a rare opportunity which I truly appreciate. It leaves me feeling I have filled my tank again with new knowledge and hope for the future. And what will the future bring? Well, there is the next Congress scheduled for three years hence, in Paris, France!

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Speaking of opportunities to learn and fill up your hope tank, plan right now to come to our 2006 Symposium, on Saturday, May 6 at the Holiday Inn in the Utica Business Park. Main speaker will be Mark Noble, a research scientist at the University Medical Center in Rochester. His topic will be Embryonic Stem Cell Research. 9 AM - 3 PM

NO admission charge

Includes lunch

Reservations required

Call Nancy McCaffrey at 337-2467

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