Dystonia Support Group

ANNUAL SUMMER SOCIAL - SATURDAY, JULY 17 - 11:00 a.m.
Contact Pat Wyatt at pcangel1102@aol.com
to let her know what dish you plan to bring

MENU:

Barbeque Chicken & Pork + buns donated by Mike Tapley of Medtronics, Inc.

Everyone else bring a covered dish. Pat Wyatt is in charge of the menu, so contact her at pcangel1102@aol.com for what you plan to bring. Pat will have a well-rounded menu compiled for this annual event.

SPECIAL - The SE Satellite Group of Dothan will outline their plans for a DISTANCE4DYSTONIA 5k run scheduled for Dothan on October 9, 2010.

The DISTANCE4DYSTONIA event is a special program designed by DMRF (our parent). Rebecca Sharp (Tim & Virginia Hornsby's daughter) and Co-Outreach DSGA director Chrissi Brannon are chairing the committee planning the event with assistance from Lissa Salvatierra, manager of special events at DMRF.

You may obtain information on DISTANCE4DYSTONIA on DMRF's website: www.dystonia-foundation.org

It's DSGA's major AWARENESS & FUND RAISING program of 2010 and we are so grateful to Rebecca & Chrissi for stepping up and chairing arrangements for the event to be held in Dothan, AL.

Since DSGA's regular meeting is the following Saturday, which conflicts with some "big" Alabama & Auburn football games, we most likely will cancel the regular Birmingham meeting.

Everyone associated with DSGA, including family & friends, are invited to take part in the event. Maxine and I plan to attend, as do Pat & Bill Wyatt. Anyone wishing assistance with transportation should contact me at Klwmgw@aol.com.

The Hornsby's will be attending the Birmingham summer social, as will several other SE Satellite Group members (likely van pool).

The DISTANCE4DYSTONIA planners are hoping the Dothan Runners Club will help approve the "course" and that other running clubs will participate.

SEE EVERYONE ON SAT JULY 17TH AT 11 AM.

Ken L.Williams, Volunteer Director

Dystonia Support Group of Alabama

Chapter of DMRF

APRIL NEWS

We had a "GREAT" meeting last Saturday. 25 attended and obtained lots of information from our speakers, Dr. Yuqing Li, lead Dystonia Researcher at UAB and his graduate ass't, Chad. It is absolutely mind boggling the progress that's being made in finding the cause and cure for Dystonia right here at UAB where but a few years ago they couldn't even spell D Y S T O N I A. A great deal of THANKS must go to Dr. David G. Standaert who was recruited from Harvard Medical Center to

"start up" a MOVEMENT DISORDER CENTER with all its related components. Quality medical professionals from Doctors, PhD's, researchers, graduate students, etc. follow "talent"....and that's what was triggered by UAB recruiting Dr. Standaert.

RESEARCH FUNDING also follows "research talent". UAB recently obtained a $1.5 million grant for Dystonia Research on which the will collaborate with Harvard Medical School & Mt. Sinai Med Center. Dr. Li explained the specifics of this particular research having to do with the DYT1 gene, now identified as associated with early onset dystonia...plus 3 other gene's associated with late onset dystonia (i.e. being struck by Dystonia after age 28 as many of us were).

The Dep't of Defense also has found that "head trauma" causes Dystonia and many Army, Navy, Air Corp's & Marine's are returning from the battlefields with DYSTONIA. So-o-o, the Dep't of Defense has joined in the DYSTONIA RESEARCH efforts throughout the USA and this produces a new "funding source" in add'n to Nat'l Institutes of Health. UAB, too, has qualified for Dep't of Defense funding for dystonia research.

Next meeting is 10:00 am Saturday, May 20th, where we've invited 2 speakers, each to make a 45 minute presentation on "non medical-surgical" approaches to Living & Coping with Dystonia.

One speaker is a well known author who's books will be available at the meeting. Her subject is DYSPHONIA.

The other invited speaker works with "Health & Wellness Programs for persons with Movement Disorders", another new center established within the UAB neurological dep't.

If you haven't paid your membership dues of $35, please do so if you can possibly afford it. Or, make a donation to DSGA or DMRF.....or set up a fund raising campaign of your own ---- something simple like asking friends & family to donate to Dystonia Research instead of buying you a "toy" for birthday's, Christmas, etc.

We continue to attract new members, mostly from people recently diagnosed with Dystonia who are seeking HELP and SUPPORT.

Ken L.Williams, Volunteer Director

Dystonia Support Group of Alabama

Newsletters from Previous Meetings are on the Newsletter page.

Meeting Basics....

Regular meetings on a monthly basis are an essential part of offering HOPE and HELP to our membership. DSG-Birmingham will meet the third Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in space provided by HealthSouth/Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital located at 3800 Ridgeway Drive (just off Lakeshore Drive), Birmingham, AL 35209.

Directions

Link to a map to HealthSouth/Lakeshore by clicking below:

Map of 3800 Ridgeway Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209-5506

For driving directions, click below:

Directions to 3800 Ridgeway Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209-5506

Dystonia Support Group - Alabama Contact Support@Dystonia-Alabama.org

Home What is Dystonia? Newsletters Upcoming Events - Birmingham Group Upcoming Events - Southeast AL Group Join Us Deep Brain Stimulation Information Page Health Care Referrals News Articles and Publications Links Contact Us		Upcoming Events - Birmingham Group Check out our Member Activities on our Awareness Page to see what all we're doing to promote awareness of Dystonia! Check out the Southeast Alabama Group's Upcoming Events here. The next meeting of the Southeast Alabama Group is April 10. For more info, click the link above. ANNUAL SUMMER SOCIAL - SATURDAY, JULY 17 - 11:00 a.m. Contact Pat Wyatt at pcangel1102@aol.com to let her know what dish you plan to bring MENU: Barbeque Chicken & Pork + buns donated by Mike Tapley of Medtronics, Inc. Everyone else bring a covered dish. Pat Wyatt is in charge of the menu, so contact her at pcangel1102@aol.com for what you plan to bring. Pat will have a well-rounded menu compiled for this annual event. SPECIAL - The SE Satellite Group of Dothan will outline their plans for a DISTANCE4DYSTONIA 5k run scheduled for Dothan on October 9, 2010. The DISTANCE4DYSTONIA event is a special program designed by DMRF (our parent). Rebecca Sharp (Tim & Virginia Hornsby's daughter) and Co-Outreach DSGA director Chrissi Brannon are chairing the committee planning the event with assistance from Lissa Salvatierra, manager of special events at DMRF. You may obtain information on DISTANCE4DYSTONIA on DMRF's website: www.dystonia-foundation.org It's DSGA's major AWARENESS & FUND RAISING program of 2010 and we are so grateful to Rebecca & Chrissi for stepping up and chairing arrangements for the event to be held in Dothan, AL. Since DSGA's regular meeting is the following Saturday, which conflicts with some "big" Alabama & Auburn football games, we most likely will cancel the regular Birmingham meeting. Everyone associated with DSGA, including family & friends, are invited to take part in the event. Maxine and I plan to attend, as do Pat & Bill Wyatt. Anyone wishing assistance with transportation should contact me at Klwmgw@aol.com. The Hornsby's will be attending the Birmingham summer social, as will several other SE Satellite Group members (likely van pool). The DISTANCE4DYSTONIA planners are hoping the Dothan Runners Club will help approve the "course" and that other running clubs will participate. SEE EVERYONE ON SAT JULY 17TH AT 11 AM. Ken L.Williams, Volunteer Director Dystonia Support Group of Alabama Chapter of DMRF APRIL NEWS We had a "GREAT" meeting last Saturday. 25 attended and obtained lots of information from our speakers, Dr. Yuqing Li, lead Dystonia Researcher at UAB and his graduate ass't, Chad. It is absolutely mind boggling the progress that's being made in finding the cause and cure for Dystonia right here at UAB where but a few years ago they couldn't even spell D Y S T O N I A. A great deal of THANKS must go to Dr. David G. Standaert who was recruited from Harvard Medical Center to "start up" a MOVEMENT DISORDER CENTER with all its related components. Quality medical professionals from Doctors, PhD's, researchers, graduate students, etc. follow "talent"....and that's what was triggered by UAB recruiting Dr. Standaert. RESEARCH FUNDING also follows "research talent". UAB recently obtained a $1.5 million grant for Dystonia Research on which the will collaborate with Harvard Medical School & Mt. Sinai Med Center. Dr. Li explained the specifics of this particular research having to do with the DYT1 gene, now identified as associated with early onset dystonia...plus 3 other gene's associated with late onset dystonia (i.e. being struck by Dystonia after age 28 as many of us were). The Dep't of Defense also has found that "head trauma" causes Dystonia and many Army, Navy, Air Corp's & Marine's are returning from the battlefields with DYSTONIA. So-o-o, the Dep't of Defense has joined in the DYSTONIA RESEARCH efforts throughout the USA and this produces a new "funding source" in add'n to Nat'l Institutes of Health. UAB, too, has qualified for Dep't of Defense funding for dystonia research. Next meeting is 10:00 am Saturday, May 20th, where we've invited 2 speakers, each to make a 45 minute presentation on "non medical-surgical" approaches to Living & Coping with Dystonia. One speaker is a well known author who's books will be available at the meeting. Her subject is DYSPHONIA. The other invited speaker works with "Health & Wellness Programs for persons with Movement Disorders", another new center established within the UAB neurological dep't. If you haven't paid your membership dues of $35, please do so if you can possibly afford it. Or, make a donation to DSGA or DMRF.....or set up a fund raising campaign of your own ---- something simple like asking friends & family to donate to Dystonia Research instead of buying you a "toy" for birthday's, Christmas, etc. We continue to attract new members, mostly from people recently diagnosed with Dystonia who are seeking HELP and SUPPORT. Ken L.Williams, Volunteer Director Dystonia Support Group of Alabama Newsletters from Previous Meetings are on the Newsletter page. Meeting Basics.... Regular meetings on a monthly basis are an essential part of offering HOPE and HELP to our membership. DSG-Birmingham will meet the third Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in space provided by HealthSouth/Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital located at 3800 Ridgeway Drive (just off Lakeshore Drive), Birmingham, AL 35209. Directions Link to a map to HealthSouth/Lakeshore by clicking below: Map of 3800 Ridgeway Dr Birmingham, AL 35209-5506 For driving directions, click below: Directions to 3800 Ridgeway Dr Birmingham, AL 35209-5506 Check our Newsletter page for information on past meetings. Click here for DSG-Alabama's year-end report for 2008. Click here for DSG-Alabama's year-end report for 2007. Click here for DSG-Alabama's distribution of funds for 2006.