SP Annual Conference and Boston TeamWalk - 2004

[Guest guest]

Both the Conference and TeamWalk are warm memories today. We met new

friends, both those with PLS and HSP and their caregivers and

families. Friday night about 60 attended the kick off dinner and

heard a great speaker on advocacy for the disabled - how to change

laws and make things happen. 100 people heard the speakers on

Saturday! Then most gathered for dinner nearby afterwards. TeamWalk

day dawned hot, humid and sunny. Despite the weather, quite a number

of determined patients and their teams walked the one mile loop in

Lexington, led by a jazz Dixie land ensemble! Kathi Geisler,

committee chairperson, was the master mind, chief cheerleader, and

most dedicated worker for this entire weekend. Everyone in SP will

benefit because of her efforts. The best news for all of you who were

unable to attend is that Gene Secor (PLS) professionally videotaped

the entire weekend. We'll let you knoow when his DVD is ready. You'll

hear the speakers, meet lots of patients, hear the band and see the

walk. We're all indebted to Gene for his efforts on our behalf.

We still have more TeamWalks to come - Ohio, Arkansas, and California.

We still need lots more donations this year to come up to our last

years' totals. Go to the SP site,, www.sp-foundation.org and make a

donation today! Ask family, friends, and co workers.The research our

donations will facilitate will help each of us in the future. This is

our only hope folks. I realize none of us enjoy asking people for

money. I hate to do it, but screwed up my courage, mailed out 100

letters and have been delighted with generosity of people who have

responded. One of the main points our motivational speaker made on

Saturday is that we need to ask others for help, and once asked,

people willingly help. People are used to being asked annually for

charity donations. Even if you asked people last year for either a

Symposium donation or a TeamWalk donation, you can ask them this

year also. You need their help. I need their help. The entire patient

community needs their help. Please help the research bus get into

overdrive by doing your part.

Thurza

[Guest guest]

It all sounds wonderful. Any idea of how much was raised?

Edith

> Both the Conference and TeamWalk are warm memories today. We met

new

> friends, both those with PLS and HSP and their caregivers and

> families. Friday night about 60 attended the kick off dinner and

> heard a great speaker on advocacy for the disabled - how to change

> laws and make things happen. 100 people heard the speakers on

> Saturday! Then most gathered for dinner nearby afterwards.

TeamWalk

> day dawned hot, humid and sunny. Despite the weather, quite a

number

> of determined patients and their teams walked the one mile loop in

> Lexington, led by a jazz Dixie land ensemble! Kathi Geisler,

> committee chairperson, was the master mind, chief cheerleader, and

> most dedicated worker for this entire weekend. Everyone in SP will

> benefit because of her efforts. The best news for all of you who

were

> unable to attend is that Gene Secor (PLS) professionally

videotaped

> the entire weekend. We'll let you knoow when his DVD is ready.

You'll

> hear the speakers, meet lots of patients, hear the band and see

the

> walk. We're all indebted to Gene for his efforts on our behalf.

>

> We still have more TeamWalks to come - Ohio, Arkansas, and

California.

> We still need lots more donations this year to come up to our last

> years' totals. Go to the SP site,, www.sp-foundation.org and make

a

> donation today! Ask family, friends, and co workers.The research

our

> donations will facilitate will help each of us in the future. This

is

> our only hope folks. I realize none of us enjoy asking people for

> money. I hate to do it, but screwed up my courage, mailed out 100

> letters and have been delighted with generosity of people who have

> responded. One of the main points our motivational speaker made

on

> Saturday is that we need to ask others for help, and once asked,

> people willingly help. People are used to being asked annually for

> charity donations. Even if you asked people last year for either a

> Symposium donation or a TeamWalk donation, you can ask them this

> year also. You need their help. I need their help. The entire

patient

> community needs their help. Please help the research bus get into

> overdrive by doing your part.

>

> Thurza

[Guest guest]

<It all sounds wonderful. Any idea of how much was raised?

Edith>

Edith -- Kathi wrote ----

<TeamWalk is the biggest community effort and we're in the middle of the

2004

TeamWalk. So far, we've raised over $140,000 but we still have all the

late sponsorships coming in from the MA TeamWalk Weekend and upcoming three

Satellite TeamWalks and is thinking of running another by

Proxy

honorary effort on October 2 at the California TeamWalk for all the

procrastinators, LOL. So it ain't over til it's over! Kathi>

To All,

I've already told a few that I'd be more than happy to do by Proxy in

the California sun--low humidity too. I don't have the benefit of a large

committee so I'd urge everyone to jump on the bandwagon fast so I can get the

Proxy Tags made! I'm guessing that Mike Gray is going to be on the bandwagon

since he did tell us that he didn't get his sponsorships in and he'd send

them to me. Join with Mike and let's make that Million Dollar goal! As my

mother always said, " The Lord helps those who help themselves " , so what better

way to help ourselves.

If you don't know what a by Proxy is -- it's just that...you can't

come to California but you'll walk with us in spirit. Send your form to me and

I'll make a Proxy tag and assign someone to walk in your honor through

beautiful downtown historical Pleasanton.

Check out the SPF website for more information or just write to me and I'll

give you all the information you need!

Please, please, please, if you're remotely close come join us especially if

you have never met another person in our community. We have a great hotel

lined up at a fantastic rate, and lots of raffle items! No speakers at this

Walk just lots of camaraderie... Actually I've attended about 10 or so

Connections so I do know a few things. ;-)

_http://www.sp-foundation.org/Teamwalk04/TW-Satellites.htm_

(http://www.sp-foundation.org/Teamwalk04/TW-Satellites.htm)

Gentner

sp-foundation