11-R237

2011 -- H 6080

Enacted 04/27/11

 

 

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2011, TO BE "HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     

     Introduced By: Representative Patricia L. Morgan

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2011

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Throughout the month of May, the Huntington's Disease Society of America

(HDSA) is working to raise awareness of this devastating neurological disease with educational

and fundraising events being held across the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Huntington's Disease (HD) is a hereditary, degenerative brain disorder that

results in a loss of cognitive, behavioral, and physical control, and for which, presently, there is

no treatment or cure; and

     WHEREAS, HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to walk, think, talk,

and reason, with symptoms usually appearing in individuals when they are between the ages of

thirty and fifty years old; and

     WHEREAS, The symptoms of HD progress over a ten to twenty-five year period,

eventually leaving the person totally dependent upon others for his or her care; and

     WHEREAS, More than 30,000 people in the United States are currently diagnosed with

HD.  Each of their siblings and children has a 50 percent risk of developing the disease, therefore

at least 200,000 Americans are at risk of developing HD; and

     WHEREAS, Although medications can relieve some symptoms in certain individuals,

research has yet to find a means of conquering or even slowing the deadly progression of HD;

and

     WHEREAS, Through education, advocacy, and increasing public awareness for HD,

hopefully, those who live with HD and their families will “not feel so alone”; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims the month of May, 2011, to be “Huntington’s Disease

Awareness Month” in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Shannon McLoud and the HDSA, New

England.

     

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LC02413

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