PRESS RELEASE: PARKINSON?S ACTION NETWORK WILL HOST 10TH ANNUAL FORUM

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

PRESS RELEASE: PARKINSON?S ACTION NETWORK WILL HOST 10TH ANNUAL FORUM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2004
CONTACT: Benjamin J. Kirby
202-842-4101  bkirby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PARKINSON?S ACTION NETWORK WILL HOST 10TH ANNUAL FORUM

Research and Education Forum & Public Policy Forum will bring leaders in 
science, advocates from across the country to
Washington, D.C.
 
(Washington, D.C.) ? The Parkinson?s Action Network (PAN) has invited 
advocates, scientists, researchers and members of
the Parkinson?s community from around the country to attend the 10th Annual 
Forum, Sunday, March 28 through Tuesday,
March 30.  The event will be held at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, 
D.C.
 
?I am sure that this will be the most productive Forum to date,? said PAN Board 
Chairman Jeffrey C. Martin. ?I?m
looking forward to hearing about the progress that is being made through 
federal research towards a cure.?
 
The Research and Education Forum, held Sunday, March 28, will feature a 
scientific overview of Parkinson?s disease
research, a briefing on the funding of federal programs, and a discussion of 
emerging therapies for Parkinson?s
disease.  The keynote speaker at the luncheon held that day will be Dr. Story 
C. Landis, Director of the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National 
Institutes of Health.  Dr. Landis will discuss
the status of Parkinson?s disease research initiatives and activities at NINDS 
with the participants.
 
On Monday, March 29, events continue with the Public Policy Forum, featuring an 
advocacy training session, a review of
the PAN Action Agenda, an exercise session for Parkinson?s patients with John 
Argue and the Lee Silverman Voice
Treatment.  The featured speaker that day will be PAN President Joan I. 
Samuelson, who will discuss advocacy and its
impact on public policy issues relating to a cure for Parkinson?s disease.
 
?The Forum promises to be an important time for Parkinson?s advocacy,? said 
Samuelson. ?I hope to not only see many old
friends there, but new faces as well.  Together, we?re going to make a 
difference and find a cure for this terrible
disease.?
 
On Tuesday, March 30 ? the final day of the Forum ? advocates will go to the 
Capitol to meet with Senators and
Representatives to discuss relevant Parkinson?s disease funding.  The event 
will close with the Louis Fishman Awards
Dinner at the Marriott.  During the dinner, awards will be presented to 
Michelle Lane of Louisiana and Murray Charters
of British Columbia, Canada.

Lane, who was diagnosed with Parkinson?s disease in June of 2000 at age 32, 
will receive the Louis Fishman Advocacy
Award for her outstanding work as the PAN Louisiana State Coordinator. 

Charters, who was diagnosed with Parkinson?s disease in 1994 at age 49, will 
receive the first annual Award for
Outstanding Service to the Parkinson?s Community. 
 
?This Forum is perfectly timed to take place just before the start of April, 
Parkinson?s Disease Awareness Month,? said
PAN Executive Director Amy L. Comstock. ?I hope that our advocates will be able 
to take the information from this
important event back to their communities and continue our fight for a cure.?
 
More information about the PAN 10th Annual Forum can be found at: 
 or by calling: (800)
850-4726. 
 
Founded in 1991, PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the 
Parkinson?s community?over one million
Americans and their families.  Through education and interaction with the 
Parkinson?s community, scientists, lawmakers,
opinion leaders, and the public, PAN fights for a cure by increasing awareness 
about Parkinson?s disease and seeks
increased federal support for Parkinson?s research.  For more information on 
the Parkinson?s Action Network, please
visit  or call 1-800-850-4726.

SOURCE: The Parkinson?s Action Network (PAN)


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