[paula_w]

From Joan Blessington Snyder

PEORIA, IL-Are you aware that April is designated “National Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month”? Probably not, unless you are one of the millions of people who are touched by this incurable, degenerative, progressive and demoralizing disease. It was not something that Joan Snyder had ever considered…but sometimes, you must learn to play with the cards you are dealt. Joan’s cards include living with Parkinson’s disease for over the past 20 years and spending hours each day advocating to raise money and awareness about this neurological disease.



Joan’s first fundraising efforts were in conjunction with the Parkinson Alliance based in New Jersey. She contributed her writing skills (along with poet Dennis Greene of Perth, Australia and local collaborators Craig Kendell, Jane Scott and Marc Esser) to help produce a gem of a book called “Voices From the Parking Lot-parkinson’s insights and perspectives.” This book is a compilation by many people who actually struggle with the disease daily and the people who love them. It was even reviewed by Helen Gurley Brown and includes a foreward by Robin Anthony Elliot, Executive Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. The book was published by the Parkinson Alliance.

~1~

For the past 13 years, Joan has organized and hosted an annual fundraising event called Shake, Rattle & Roll which was held yearly; featuring a kid’s carnival, kid’s entertainment, food, drink, an ice cream social and some of the great rock n roll & blues bands that this area has to offer.

She met Craig Cady, Ph.D-a brilliant biology professor at Bradley University and the man responsible for all the ground-breaking stem cell research that was taking place and being noted by other giants in the field and gradually her interest and direction began to change from PD activism to Stem Cell Research as a means to find a cure for PD. The two have been in constant contact and enjoy a fast, mutually beneficial friendship to this day.

Along the way, Joan met many politicians, many civic leaders, doctors, health care professionals, lots of famous entertainers and thousands of Parkinson’s patients from all over the world. Whether you like her or hate her; she most definitely leaves an impression.

Joan has raised over $85,000 for Parkinson’s disease research.

Her latest effort is a recently released CD of music that was written by and preformed by people with Parkinson’s or by friends who love them. This CD, titled “Voices of the Dreams We Share-songs of Hope and Courage.” This album has been saved for a re-release during Parkinson Awareness month and Joan is offering the book, the CD and various T-shirts in various packages with all of the proceeds going to Dr. Cady’s stem cell research lab where it will be used to purchase new equipment
and supplies as he needs them.

~2~

This new CD has some very special features:
· The cover and inside art is all the original work of internationally renowned artist and sculptor, Preston Jacksonwhich qualifies it as a collector’s item
· The producer of the CD is William Duncan; a noted sound engineer from this area
· The graphic artwork is by Janie Grier Kelley-the best in the “biz” around here
· The poetry on the inside of the CD liner is all written by
members of the Parkinson’s community from all over the US-who are members of The Parkinson’s Meeting Room chat room
This CD has something for everyone:
· LONG TRIP by Hannah Offutt is a thought-provoking ballad in the tradition of Laura Nyro or Suzannah Vega
· OK BAYOU by Ken Carlyle is a happy, lively Cajun tune by a local legend
· ON A SONG by Barry Cloyd is a beautifully sung song sbout getting along with what comes your way in this life
· SHINE THRU is our heaviest rocker on the disc. It is written and preformed by Peoria native Nick Boettcher who works from Chicago these days
· HEAVEN ON EARTH by the Robin Crowe Band is a gutsy rockin’ love song
· LIGHT’S GONNA SHINE ON YOU by The Vannessa Davis Blues Band is without a doubt, the most beautiful blues song by the queen of south side Chicago blues
· TRANSMIT DOPAMINE by Colin Campbell is both a rap song and a techno-pop song, crafted by a consummate musician from Virginia
· SONGS D’AUTOMINE by John Miller & the Romaniacs introduces us to a new genre of music-gypsy jazz; you can close your eyes and picture the smoke from a fire and around the fire, gypsies dancing to the music of D’Jango Reinhart

~3~

· GOLDEN TENNIS SHOES by first time singer Jimmi “Toad” Turner will have you running for the tissue box. This song, written by his father-in-law tells the story of a little boy who never had shoes like the other kids because he was stricken by first polio and later PD. Jim is a well-loved writer from the ‘parkie” community and this gospel song was a major influence in Joan’s decision to do the CD

· LIFE CAN BE MYSTERIOUS by Mitch Leichelt from Texas is lovely contemporary Christian song. Mitch used to be the pilot of huge jet liners but was grounded because of his PD…now it has all but silenced of his ability to play

· THE PD SONG by Mark Solomon is a catchy pop tune written & sung by a Grammy-award nominated writer for the Bob Newhart Show. He is now involved in as many activities in the entertainment world as his PD allows.

· STRONGER THE WIND-THE TOUGHER THE TREES written by James Newton and preformed by Herbie Russ is a compelling song in the easy-listening jazz genre.

· NEVER SURRENDER by James Shrader is a battle call to all people with Parkinson’s disease reminding us that if we want to find a cure for this disease, then we must organize and teach others what it is that we deal with each day

· IF I CAN’T DANCE by Grace Griffith is a Celtic charmer. If you catch traces of Joni Mitchell in her voice-it is because they are friends. This song is the culmination of all of our hopes and our dreams

The liner notes were written by Joan and she tells us that this has been a long-held secret ambition of hers.

~4~

The T-shirts are beautiful. They come in 3 colors and four styles.
· Hot pink sleeveless tank top (sizes available: S,M,LXL,2 XL)
· Baby pink long sleeved tee (sizes available: S,M,L,XL,2XL)
· Black short sleeved tee (sizes available: S,M,L,XL,2XL)
· Black long sleeved tee (sizes available: S,M,L,XL, 2XL)


These tees are printed on heavy-duty, pre-shrunk cotton. The front have the PD tulip, the name of the CD and the launch party date
all printed in day-glow, glow-in-the-dark colors of hot pink, green and white. On the back is a list of the bands who generously donated their time and talent to make this project a success.


THE PRICES;



THE BOOK VOICES FROM THE PARKING LOT


Retails @ $25.00


THE CD VOICES FROM THE DREAMS WE SHARE


Retails @ $20.00


THE T –SHIRT


Retails @ $15.00



SPECIALS:



1 Book, 1CD & 2 T-Shirts…$25.00



1 Book & 1 T-Shirt…$20.00


1 CD & 1 T-Shirt…$15.00


Book …$15.00


CD…$10.00


T-Shirt…$5.00


~5~


Please contact Joan Snyder with any questions or concerns. All monies from the CD and T-shirt sales will go to Dr, Craig Cady’s Neurophysiology Research Lab located at Bradley University. All monies from book sales will go to the Parkinson Alliance.


Both are 501©(3) organizations and if you need a number for tax purposes, please note it when you order, To avoid confusion, please make checks payable to Joan E. Snyder and please put Shake, Rattle & Roll in the memo line. All items are subject to availability. Include the style, color and size you would like for the t-shirt orders. It is a good idea to put a second choice for the shirts in case one is sold out. If you include your phone number with your order, I will call to double check your order before mailing.


Contact me at (309) 579-3026 or snyder201@mchsi.com