 An outpouring of support from many corners
May 15, 2009
A 13-year-old Australian boy is inspired and wants to ride 600 kilometers on his bike to honor his grandfather, who has PSP.
Others have a mother, a father, a wife, a husband, a relative or a friend with PSP,and want to help in one way or another to increase awareness of the disease or honor their loved one.
Sandy hears the heart-wrenching stories, reads the emails and says she feels honored to do what she can.
Coinciding with Mother's Day, Louisville Courier-Journal reporter Laura Ungar wrote a feature about the walk this summer and included information about PSP. That story was published in the Wilmington News-Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer. Louisville's ABC affiliate, WHAS-11 , did a Mother's Day piece about the awareness walk in honor of Sandy's mother, Allene.
The combination of those stories and a CurePSP email reached many people, and many of them have reached out to Sandy to provide encouragement, words of support, and prayer.
"I had not heard of PSP until my mother was diagnosed with it in November of 2006," one woman wrote. "What you are doing to raise awareness is beyond awesome. You will be in the thoughts and prayers of many in Texas as you walk."
A Pennsylvania woman said, "You are so right about this disease being horrendous. My Mom was and still is the strongest person I have ever known. I will never ever be the same again...I am 39 years old with children of my own. I hope with everything inside me they will never have to see me suffer the way my Mom has for way too long. PSP sucks -- I'm sorry but it just does -- and i hate everything about it."
Sandy says when she walks this summer, she will be thinking of her Mom - and will be carrying the stories with her of all of those who have shared information about how PSP has touched their lives.
Sandy is finalizing her plans and would love to have to people join her to walk - if only a symbolic distance - when she starts out on June 8. She would also like to have others walk with her along the route. Contact her on the contact form on this website if you can walk with her, or if you can provide accommodations along the way.
Go to www.curepsp.org for more information about PSP and how you can help. | 
