2004 TeamWalk For Our Cures 

TeamWalk Walkathons - help speed our cures!
Connection Events - meet others!
National Research and Beyond Conference - hear from leading experts!

The 2004 TeamWalk For Our Cures features walkathons to raise funds to help researchers find the cures for HSP and PLS.  Individuals get sponsorships for their participation in a TeamWalk - either as a Walker at one of four locations or as an honorary Walker by Proxy from anywhere. There's also our national Research and Beyond Conference, featuring programs by leading researchers including Drs. Fink and Marchuk, who received the first SPF Research Awards.  There's also several Connection events for our patient community to connect, support and help one another. 

The effort kicks off August 27-29 in Massachusetts with an Arrival Dinner, the national Conference, Gala Dinner Banquet and the first TeamWalk Walkathon. That walkathon also features Walkers walking on behalf of the Walker by Proxy program, allowing everyone from across the Americas to participate. Satellite TeamWalks and Connection gatherings will be held in Ohio and Arkansas on September 18, with the finale TeamWalk on October 2 in California. 

There's also a Buzzy Scooter Raffle - win a $1,500 three-wheel Scooter! The TeamWalk Prize Program features a Grand Prize of another $1,500 Buzzy Scooter and other prizes. People who can't participate in TeamWalk but would like to support TeamWalk can make their individual TeamWalk donation.

TeamWalk Weekend in Massachusetts

(Visit Satellites for TeamWalks and Connections in Ohio, Arkansas or California and Walker by Proxy for the Walker by Proxy Program)

The weekend hotel hub is the Four Points Sheraton Burlington. Overnight rooms are $89. Address: 30 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA  01803. Phone: (781) 272-8800, 1-888-565-7654.  The closest airport is Boston Logan, about 20 miles east. Call Flight Line for limo service at 1-800-245-2525. 

Arrival Reception and Dinner, August 27, 5:30 p.m., Four Points Sheraton Hotel

Sign-in for the weekend, meet others and enjoy dinner and a program featuring Special Guest Elmer Bartels. Mr. Bartels, a quadriplegic, has had a distinguished career in rehabilitation, public service, and disability advocacy. He'll share his amazing story as well as a program on "Living Independently and Housing and Home Modifications".

Research and Beyond Conference, August 28, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Four Points Sheraton Hotel

A Coffee Arrival begins at 9:00 a.m. to sign-in, collect materials, visit the tables, mingle and enjoy coffee and breakfast breads. The Conference will begin at 10:00 a.m.

We are honored to present the investigators who received the first two SPF Research Awards, two experts working on regenerative medicine research and other exciting programs:

• John K. Fink, M.D., University of Michigan and SPF Research Award recipient: "PLS - Finding the Causes and Cures" and "PLS and HSP - Similarities and Differences"

• Douglas Marchuk, PhD., Duke University and SPF Research Award recipient: "HSP - Finding the Causes and Cures"

• Drs. Paola Arlotta and Bradley Molyneaux, MA General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Center for Nervous System Repair: "Promises of Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine"

• Terry Wise, J.D., speaker and author: "Waking Up: Climbing Through the Darkness"

• A Time For Us: Special break-out sessions for patients and loved ones

Gala Dinner Banquet, August 28, 6:00 p.m., Dandelion Green Restaurant 

Join us after the Conference for a Gala Dinner in our private banquet room at the Dandelion Green restaurant, a popular American cuisine restaurant in Burlington known for its steak and seafood entrees (price range $19-$25). Car pooling and the hotel shuttle bus will be available. Reservations are necessary and individuals will be responsible for their own dining expenses.

TeamWalk Walkathon, August 29, 9:30 a.m., Lexington Visitor’s Center

Arrive to the tented area at 9:30 on the grounds of the Lexington Visitor’s Center at 1875 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. Phone: 781-862-2480. The Visitor’s Center is three miles from the Sheraton and a free shuttle bus is available. The Center serves as a tourist information center and has a souvenir gift shop and an accessible bathroom.

After registration and a program, the TeamWalk will begin. The route is several loops, allowing people to participate in as much as desired, up to two miles. It passes by many Revolutionary War sites. Individuals can also remain under the tent and enjoy the morning and welcome Walkers as they return. A celebration lunch will be held after the TeamWalk concludes.

Optional post-TeamWalk afternoon outing

Sign up at the Visitor’s Center for an afternoon Liberty Ride bus tour to popular tourist attractions in Lexington and Concord. Visit the birthplaces of American liberty and 19th century literature as a costumed guide recounts the events of April 19, 1775 and the literary legacy that defined American identity and culture.

Registration for the TeamWalk Weekend in Massachusetts

Register using the online Form below or print out this mail-in Form. You can even form your own TeamWalk Team and ask your family members and close friends to join you in the TeamWalk. Simply submit an online Registration Form for each Team Member or include their names on the printed mail-in Form. Register by August 13 to receive one Free Raffle Ticket for the Buzzy Scooter Raffle and a free TeamWalk Heart and Sole T-shirt with $250 or more in sponsorships. Each registered member of your Team is also eligible.

Print out these TeamWalk Forms to use for your TeamWalk:

Sponsorship Form to collect your sponsorships: PDF format or Word document. Submit Form and sponsorships by August 23.
Tips and a Sample Letter to help you collect sponsorships: PDF format or  Word document.

All TeamWalk participants are eligible for the Grand Prize Program. First prize is a $1,500 Buzzy Scooter! Prizes will be awarded based on sponsorships received by September 27 and announced on October 2 at the California TeamWalk.