-- Parkinson’s Research Walk to benefit New Haven-based research institute.

Fairfield, CT - June, 2002 – On an autumn morning in Fairfield, Connecticut, something more is falling between the parachuting kaleidoscope of leaves. They are footsteps. One foot in front of the other, they are walking in search of an answer, a cure, for Parkinson’s disease, just as researchers do daily. This fall, on the morning of Sunday, October 13, 2002, these footsteps will etch the first annual Parkinson’s Research Walk to benefit the Parkinson’s disease research of Dr. Ken Marek and his investigative team at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders.

According to event organizer, Dr. Howard Zwickler, it is the research of the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders (IND) and many other Parkinson Disease research centers that gives him hope. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1993, Dr. Zwickler grappled with the terms of his illness, unwilling to accept his diagnosis, barely acknowledging it to himself or others. To the business administrator of the Fairfield Public School system, there was no time to be ill. For years, Dr. Zwickler ran from his disease. At last, it caught up with him. In the summer of 2000 Dr. Zwickler’s world collapsed, and he spent five months on a limited work schedule due to the effects of Parkinson’s disease. For Dr. Zwickler, this was unacceptable; he was determined not to let Parkinson’s slow him down. Refusing to abandon his desire to maintain his normal pace, and with effective treatment for his symptoms, Dr. Zwickler has returned to work full time, ready to reclaim his life. He understands that continued progress in Parkinson disease treatment depends on support for accelerated Parkinson Disease Research.

Dr. Zwickler is passionate about Parkinson Disease Research and in particular, the work of Dr. Marek and the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders. IND was formed in March 2001 as a registered non-profit research institute that aims to advance research into Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Dystonia. It is the mission of IND to develop effective treatments and pursue cures for these life-altering and devastating afflictions. Staffed by a team of accomplished researchers in New Haven, Connecticut, the Institute stands as a premier research facility for clinical brain imaging research into Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.

Affecting approximately 1.5 million people in the United States, Parkinson’s disease can be debilitating, causing tremors, muscle rigidity, slowed motion, shuffling gait and a loss of facial expression. It is the second most common chronic neurological disorder in older adults after Alzheimer’s. Because the exact causes of and a cure for Parkinson’s disease continue to elude the medical community, research is valued greatly by those involved with the disease.

Parkinson’s research is valued by Dr. Zwickler. He wishes to recognize the importance of research and what IND does to piece together the Parkinson’s puzzle. “My goal is to make more people aware of Dr. Marek’s work in New Haven so that we can raise money to help with the Institute’s work, and to help with Parkinson’s disease in general.” To do this Dr. Zwickler has decided to channel his energy into organizing the Parkinson’s Research Walk in honor of Dr. Marek and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders and hopes to raise $50,000 over the next two years.
The Parkinson’s Research Walk will take place at 10:00 am at the Penfield Pavilion in Fairfield, Connecticut and will cover two miles. Participation is encouraged in any way possible and further information regarding the Research Walk can be obtained by contacting IND, by phone: 203.401.4300, by email: info@indd.org, or by visiting the IND website at: www.INDD.org.