Half Way Home Newsletter: June 2004

From the beginning Laura’s Hope was designed to be a five year initiative. The idea was to raise as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and invest it all in accelerating clinical trails for promising treatments. We were optimistic this fund could make a very real difference in getting a treatment ‘from bench to bed.’

We are now half way along this journey (already!).
The mood has changed from optimistic; to inspired, confident, and excited!

Part of this is because of the tremendous support Laura’s Hope has received from the professional speaking community around the world. The other part is from the steady stream of news coming out of the research community. Earlier this year Laura’s Hope granted its first two funding requests, and we are extremely gratified to be able to make a contribution to these efforts. In its super-simplified form, here’s a summary of scientific results over the last while: (with the most exciting discussed last . . . of course :-)

There has been an explosion of additional information about exactly what is going on inside the brain cells, and how they are dying. Several of the different ‘routes to a treatment’ are now beginning to converge. This convergence leads much of the research community to believe Huntington’s is now in the home stretch. Needless to say, this is not only exciting for Laura’s Hope, but is also creating a huge increase in interest throughout the entire neuroscience world. The number of published papers on Huntington’s has increased by hundreds of percent, and researchers around the world are exploring how their work can be applied to the Huntington’s treatment. This means dramatically more resources are being brought to bear on this final push to realize the cure.

Kennedy disease has been cured. Very rare in North America, more common in SE Asia, this disease works much the same way as Huntington’s in numerous basic ways. It’s been stopped 100% with pharmaceuticals. It is believed that a variation of the process used will do the same thing for Huntington’s.

For the first time, we have “Big Pharma” on the Scientific Review Committee for Laura’s Hope. While I am confident that Merck is here to participate in the last stages of a treatment for the 500,000 Huntington’s victims around the world, there are those who suggest that part of the appeal to them may also be the ability to patent the process, which it is believed will also be used to treat Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, and others.

We enthusiastically welcome and applaud their support.

The Huntington’s Project has been launched this year. This unprecedented effort will bring together both basic and clinical scientists, affected families, advocacy groups, and the entire Huntington’s community all over the world. They are sharing data, experience, strategies, and plans to co-ordinate and maximize the efficiency and fruitfulness of their collective efforts. This is a ground breaking effort in this kind of work.
Finally, the most momentous to date . . . .

The conventional wisdom has always been that the progression of this disease was a one-way street. The thinking was that we’d find something to slow it down, then find something to stop it in its tracks, and at some point - well over the horizon - perhaps be able to actually reverse damage already done. (Newsweek recently did a feature on the stem cell approach relative to Alzheimer’s following President Reagan’s death. The ‘plaque build-up’ it described was originally discovered in Huntington’s labs.)
While this is not technically accurate, they can basically turn Huntington’s on and off in transgenic mice. Researchers recently gave mice a pretty advanced case of Huntington’s, and then turned the disease off.
To everyone’s amazement, the mice got better!
They did not return to their full pre-disease state, but they definitely showed a reversal of much of the devastation caused by Huntington’s.
This changes everything. It means that our window of opportunity for Andrea has now gone from 4 or 5 years, to 8 or 9 years. We are obviously thrilled. We are also more convinced than ever that Laura’s Hope is doing the right thing, at the right time, and that we will accomplish our objective.

Contribute to Laura's Hope

There are lots of ways to help get Laura’s Hope over the top and help realize Laura’s dream of a cure for Huntington’s Disease. As you consider the options, know that anything and everything you do is appreciated. You’ve already read about the two grants Laura’s Hope has funded; you’ve read about the amazing progress the research community is making. It’s an exciting time and we want YOU to be a part of it. The following list is provided for your consideration and use:

Order Brendan Power’s book, From the Heart of Ireland, www.amazon.co.uk or via http://www.professionalspeakers.org/cgibin/cgiwrap/psa/allegro.pl?product44
Funds generated from the sale of this book go directly to Laura’s Hope. For £10.99 you can help Laura’s Hope, receive a delightful and inspirational collection of stories, often focused on a turning point in someone’s life. They will help you to appreciate similar moments in your own life.

Order Max Hitchins’ book, Hospitality Scams, Cheats, Crooks & Thieves, www.hospitalitydoctor.com. Hospitality Scams is NOT being sold to the general public! It is only available via the internet. It will NOT be mailed to a PO Box or a private address. It is expressly for those in the hospitality industry and makes an excellent reference tool for hotel/restaurant management and staff. A portion of the sale from each book is designated for Laura’s Hope.

Order Brad McRae’s & David Brook’s book, The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters, www.amazon.com. This book will help anyone develop the presentation strategies and skills exemplified by the Master Presenters interviewed in this book, whether for a one-on-one presentation, a sales call, a talk to a small group, or a speech to an audience of a thousand or more. A portion from the sale ($11.89) of each book goes to Laura’s hope. You may also order the book directly from Brad by emailing him: brad@bradmcrae.com

Direct Contributions: see www.Laura’sHope.com for the most appropriate way to make your donation in your country.

Become a Dream Maker for Laura’s Hope and donate $25,000.00

Become a Visionary Leader for Laura’s Hope and donate $10,000.

Speakers, Seminar Leaders, Workshop Facilitators, Consultants and Coaches: Contribute the proceeds from one engagement/contract this year to Laura’s Hope.

Donate whatever you can. . .we are almost able to realize Laura’s Hope, a cure for Huntington’s Disease. Together we can make this happen and we want YOU to be a part of the realization of Laura’s dream that will touch individuals and families around the world who are struggling with this disease and so many other related diseases.