Becoming An Advocate
Since this is April and Parkinson’s Awareness month, I have had an inspiration regarding my “intensity” for finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease and how I might tell others how they can become “in”-volved in the cure for it and Alzheimer’s disease.
First, my intensity is intentional and it is indicative of a person wanting a cure . Some may think I have at times crossed the line of insanity for doing such things as asking people to wear a bright colored, flowery coat and let me take their picture as an opportunity to tell them a little bit about PD. I also like to tell people about the incredible individuals in the group, ” The Regulars” who inspire me by their dedication and determination to help cure PD and Alzheimer’s disease using the activity of mountain climbing as their platform. And then to bring it all together, I tell people that I got to know some of The Regulars and asked them to take my PD awareness coat with them as they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in July of 2009 and they did!
You see these things I do or have done as an advocate for my cause are nothing irregular (not to any extreme craziness …yet) or do they require super intelligence. It just takes an intentional commitment to change your inclination toward inactivity to one of becoming an instrument of change for a cure. You can go from being an integer of 1 to being a part of ONE insurgency force that will be instrumental in finding a cure for not only PD but AlzD as well! WE will do this by integrating our individual efforts through innovative and industrial means of activities that start with an invasion of HOPE, fueled with an influx of DETERMINATION to invoke people to become aware, to become active, and to join in this incorporation of insurgents who have decided to make it their life’s mission to be instrumental in the quest for CURES for these two illnesses, which no one should have to experience.
To become an advocate for a cure for PD and ALZ you must change your mindset that “I am inexperienced in doing this” to “I am living this illness and I am going to be insistent upon a change and will not let it inhibit me from doing what I can to help end PD and ALZ soon!” No one is inadequate, we all have some way to invoke a response from others about our own illness or for one we love who deals with one of these illnesses. Sure – you are going to have to instigate and initiate some kind of plan to help in the revolution of change. But know this – there are others you can find who will inspire you, who will encourage you, and who will be working along side you as ONE unified movement to incite a change that will change your life and the lives of others when you step out in commitment.
Please don’t be indecisive…but become involved in a way that fits your individual situation. I think you will enjoy the experience of becoming a part of the togetherness of ONE inspired by one man who had a vision to beat PD and ALZ within 10 years. Five have gone by and the need is still there…He wants an army to help him finish it. Are you ready to sign up? His name is Enzo Simone and you should know about him: check out www.theRegulars.org or on Facebook the group “10 Mountains 10 Years” to find out more. And sign up with Team Fox, or the Alzheimers’ Association, Leeza’s Place, or Focus on a Cure. It’s time to end it and we can do it!
Judy “In10city” Hensley
PD patient and advocate for a cure
4/12/10
