1Designating September 25, 2014, as "International Ataxia
2Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The National Ataxia Foundation strives to meet the
4goals of:

5(1) Location of patients and persons at risk. The
6National Ataxia Foundation encourages a complete neurological
7examination to make early and correct diagnosis.

8(2) Increased awareness about ataxia. The National
9Ataxia Foundation assures that accurate information about
10ataxia will be available through a variety of educational
11programs for physicians, allied health professionals and the
12public.

13(3) Prevention of the spread of these disorders. The
14National Ataxia Foundation encourages genetic counseling to
15help affected individuals and families understand the
16hereditary nature of the illness.

17(4) Research. In addition to its own research efforts,
18the National Ataxia Foundation supports those research

1projects that are designed to better understand the pathology
2and causes of the ataxias, or to institute new treatments
3based upon scientific data. The National Ataxia Foundation
4helps to coordinate research efforts into the causes and
5early detection of ataxia through existing centers throughout
6the world;

7and

8WHEREAS, An estimated 150,000 individuals are affected by
9hereditary and sporadic ataxia in the United States; and

10WHEREAS, Ataxia is a group of progressive neurological
11diseases that affect balance, coordination and speech and is
12often fatal; and

13WHEREAS, Ataxia can strike anyone at any time, without regard
14to age, gender, race or creed; and

15WHEREAS, There is no known cure for ataxia; the only defense
16is research and prevention through education; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the Senate designate September 25, 2014, as
18"International Ataxia Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania and urge
19all citizens to honor and support those individuals with ataxia
20and their caregivers, in the hope that a cure will soon be
21found.