Senate Resolution No. 2156

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 2017, as Huntington's Disease Awareness Month in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2017, as
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Huntington's Disease
Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that
causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain; it
deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities during their prime
working years and has no cure; and

WHEREAS, HD is known as the quintessential family disease because
every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the
faulty gene; and

WHEREAS, Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans
and more than 200,000 at risk of inheriting the disease; and

WHEREAS, Born in 1912, Woody Guthrie was an American
singer-songwriter who died of HD; soon after his death, his widow,
Marjorie, vowed to do something about this silent killer; dynamic and
compelling, she convinced then President Jimmy Carter to form a
Presidential Commission to study neurological diseases, including HD;
and

WHEREAS, The recommendations that resulted from that 1977 report
have served as the cornerstone of the Huntington's Disease Society of
America's (HDSA) commitment to the care and cure of HD; and

WHEREAS, HDSA maintains Centers of Excellence across the country
including one in Rochester, New York; at these world-class facilities,
patients benefit from expert neurologists, psychiatrists, therapists,
counselors and other professionals who have deep experience working with
families affected by HD and who work collaboratively to help families
plan the best HD care program throughout the course of the disease; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, researchers identified the gene that causes HD;
since then, research has moved quickly towards developing treatments
and, ultimately, a cure; since 1999, the HDSA has committed more than
$18 million to fund research with the goal of finding effective
treatments to slow Huntington's disease; and

WHEREAS, Past research efforts have also helped increase the number
of scientists working on HD and have shed light on many of the complex
biological mechanisms involved in HD; and

WHEREAS, The Team Hope Walk program is HDSA's signature grassroots
fundraising campaign designed to provide hope and support for those
touched by this devastating disease; and

WHEREAS, All proceeds support HDSA's mission to improve the lives of
people affected by HD and their families; since their inception in 2007,
Team Hope Walks have occurred in over 100 different cities and have
raised over $7 million for the cause; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
Huntington's disease and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, state and national levels to support those afflicted as well as
their families and caregivers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2017, as
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.