Foundation Celebrates Work With Parkinsons
Melvin Weinstein died of Parkinson's disease
five years ago, but Marsha Anthony is making sure
her father's name lives on. Anthony remembers
his philanthropic ways.
"His passion for giving
never waned no matter how physically disabled
he became," she said.
A few months ago, she started
the Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation; a
nonprofit organization to help financially challenged
Parkinson's patients.
"It took me until the beginning
of this year to put the suffering behind me. I'd
seen people on TV who were doing things for others
and the thought came in my mind," said Anthony
of the Great Neck area. "My inspiration was
because we could buy the things he needed while
other people cannot.”
During the 10 years Weinstein
had the debilitating disease, Anthony said her
mother, Mollie, was able to get the equipment,
supplies and renovations needed in their Richmond
home to make each day a little easier.
"But, even with all that,
it's still a daily struggle," she said. "The
thought of the less fortunate Parkinson's patients
not having their needs met is simply not acceptable
to me." The foundation will help Parkinson's
patients acquire equipment such as walkers, canes,
lift chairs, wheelchairs and shower seats. "It
can help them to stay a little more independent
and by helping them that way we kind of help the
caregiver," said Anthony.
"It's really a horrible
disease as it progresses, and I just want people
to get the things they need." The disease
affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans, according
to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation in New York.
Symptoms include .muscle rigidity, tremors, slow
movements, poor balance and other walking problems.
Anthony's daughter, Traci Corcoran, 27, is a partner
in the MWPF and executed the legal work for the
organization.
Reprinted with permission and
grateful thanks to THE BEACON, a community section
of the Virginian Pilot. Published January 2, 2003
She Launched A Foundation In Her
Dads Name To Help
To Corcoran, it's a way honor the
grandfather who never saw her graduate from law
school. "We were focused on his needs for
so long," said Corcoran. "Now, we are
able to help others. We don't want to offend anybody.
We just want to help people." MWPF has already
helped its first patient, Mary Pearce, of College
Park.
"I was honored, humbled
and very appreciative of what she did," said
Pearce, who was provided with a bath chair and
shower hose. "I just realized that I needed
it because I started to lose my balance in the
shower. She makes it so easy, and you still hold
on to your self-respect." Dale Caudill of
Kempsville Lake is ecstatic about the creation
of MWPF. "There are people who slip through
the holes and don't get the services they need,"
said Caudill, who also suffers from Parkinson's.
"All of your coins are
really accounted for, and when these emergencies
come up it's hard. There's a real need for what
she's doing, and she's going to help a whole lot
of people." "Her father must've been
a fine person, because he raised a wonderful daughter,"
said Caudill who met with Anthony and Corcoran
immediately after learning about the foundation.
"I just want to get the word out to as many
people as I can," said Anthony.
For details about the Melvin
Weinstein Parkinson’s Foundation, call 313-9729
or e-mail help@mwpf.org. Donations can also be
mailed to 1340 -1792 North Great Neck Road, #193,
Virginia Beach, Va. 23454-2230.
|
