[Stitcher]

Pennies put Parkinson's research on roll

by Beth Duckett - Aug. 4, 2008 11:15 AM
The Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...0805cover.html

FOUNTAIN HILLS - A penny-pinching campaign in Fountain Hills to raise money for Parkinson's disease research could soon reach statewide status.

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix plans to spread the "Pennies for Parkinson's" campaign across Arizona and possibly the nation.

Donors are asked to raid their piggy banks or dig out loose change to help find a cure for the degenerative disease.

The campaign is the pet project of Bruce Florence, a Fountain Hills resident and the founder of a local Parkinson's support group that is heading the effort.

Florence said the group entrusted the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center to take over the campaign because "they have the means to get the word out and get it organized."

So far, Florence has collected at least $125, which is 12,500 pennies.

He is asking potential donors to keep their change until the campaign officially rolls out this fall.

"It really has spread quickly out of town and out of state through word of mouth," Florence said. "We didn't have to really do any advertising."

Value of the penny

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[jeanb]

Arizona is in the news ... I know Bruce from Fountain Hills as well. He organized the PD art Show a few months ago.

The Fountain Hills support group is very active!