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

3WHEREAS, An estimated 150,000 individuals are affected by
4hereditary and sporadic ataxia in the United States; and

5WHEREAS, Ataxia is an often fatal degenerative neurological
6disorder that causes slow, progressive deterioration of nerve
7cells in the spinal cord and cerebellum, affecting balance,
8coordination and speech; and

9WHEREAS, The initial symptoms of ataxia include clumsiness
10and loss of coordination, but as the condition progresses,
11ataxia may affect mobility and the ability to communicate and
12lead to total physical dependency; and

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

15WHEREAS, Although ataxia is uncommon, recent scientific

1research suggests it is more prevalent than previously thought,
2and it may often be misdiagnosed or unrecognized; and

3WHEREAS, There is no known treatment or cure for ataxia,
4leaving the only defense to be research and prevention through
5education; therefore be it

6RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
7September 25, 2014, as "Ataxia Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania
8and urge all citizens to honor and support those individuals
9with ataxia and their caregivers, in the hope that a cure will
10soon be found.