You are invited!

SPF 2005 Nat'l Conference and TeamWalk Weekend
Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2

Friday: evening Social Arrival kicks off the weekend!

Saturday: National Conference features SPF Medical Advisor John K. Fink, M.D. and Teepu Siddique, M.D., recipients of SPF Research Awards. Also: programs on assistive technology and adaptive equipment for children and adults and other informational programs.

Sunday: National TeamWalk Walkathon - walk and roll and take us one step closer to our cures

NOTE: If you can't get to Ohio, participate as a Walker by Proxy from afar and a designated Walker will walk in your honor and wear your name tag!

Registration for the National Conference and TeamWalk Weekend is $75 per person (Registration below). This covers the Arrival Social, National Conference with breakfast and lunch and your TeamWalk t-shirt. The Social and the Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency. The TeamWalk begins at the Hyatt and proceeds to Goodale Park. Print out the entire TeamWalk Weekend Booklet here.

The Hyatt Regency Columbus has set aside rooms for our group at a discounted rate of $109. Call 1-800-233-1234 (group code SP-Foundation). Or, print out and mail in this hotel registration form (pdf file) with your payment. Contact Paul for more information at 614-784-1363.

TeamWalk For Our Cures

The TeamWalk walkathon is is our primary fundraiser to raise funds for research. It is a pre-paid event. You raise sponsorships for your participation, not distance walked. Walk or roll as little or as much as you'd like! 100% of funds raised will support Research Awards.

The most effective way to get sponsorships is to ask your family and friends directly. The next-best way is a letter-writing campaign. Click here for a sample letter. We can also set up a TeamWalk webpage, where your family and friends can make online sponsorships.  See Flora and Mark's personal TeamWalk webpage. Contact us for a personal TeamWalk webpage.

Print out this Donation Page (PDF file) to track your sponsorships and mail in with your donations. Please send all sponsorship donations to SPF TeamWalk, P.O. Box 14129, Columbus, OH by Sept. 23 (bring late donations with you).

Registration

Registration for the Conference and TeamWalk Weekend is $75. This covers the Arrival Social, Conference with breakfast and lunch, the TeamWalk and your TeamWalk T-shirt. Individuals will pay for optional Saturday evening activities separately. Register online using your credit card through Paypal (a secure site) below. Or, download the Registration Form (pdf file) and mail it in with your check. 

Online Registration For the National Conference and TeamWalk Weekend Online Registration is a 2-step process. 1.  First, enter your name and all information in Step One and check the Waiver Release. Then, click the "Submit" button. You will be sent to a Confirmation Page.  Scroll down and click on the "Return to Registration" link at the bottom to bring you back to this Registration webpage, (or use your browser's "Back" button to return to this page). 2.  Then, follow the directions in Step Two to register each person and make your online payment through PayPal (a secure site for credit card payments). You can download a Registration Form to mail in, if you prefer, to make your payment. Questions: contact us.

Step One   First Name: Last Name: My Team Name: Daytime Phone: Address: City: State or Canada: Select State  Alaska  Alabama  Arkansas  Arizona  California  Canada Colorado  Connecticut  District of Columbia  Delaware  Florida  Georgia  Hawaii  Iowa  Idaho  Illinois  Indiana  Kansas  Kentucky  Louisiana  Massachussets  Maryland  Maine  Michigan  Minnesota  Missouri  Mississippi  Montana  North Carolina  North Dakota  Nebraska  New Hampshire  New Jersey  New Mexico  Nevada  New York  Ohio  Oklahoma  Oregon  Pennsylvania  Rhode Island  South Carolina  South Dakota  Tennessee  Texas  Utah  Virginia  Vermont  Washington  Wisconsin  West Virginia  Wyoming  Zip/Postal Code: Email Address: My interest is: HSP  PLS  Both  Birthdate (MM/DD/YY): Sex: Male Female I Want to Volunteer! Volunteers will receive a T-Shirt No Yes TeamWalk Waiver and Release (Required) In consideration for joining the TeamWalk Weekend event, I hereby assume any and all risks which may be associated with my participation in TeamWalk activities. If I have a neurological condition that causes me to have difficulty walking, I understand that I have an increased risk of falling, especially because of cracks, holes or uneven ground surfaces that I will encounter during the TeamWalk. I also understand that a fall could result in serious bodily injuries to me. Understanding these risks, I still intend to participate in TeamWalk, and I assume any and all risks which may be associated with my participation. I waive all claims against the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, its officers, directors, volunteers, agents and assigns, from any and all injuries or liabilities which might occur during or in TeamWalk. I grant full permission for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation to use photographs and videos of me taken at the TeamWalk and any accompanying events such as the Research and Beyond Conference, Arrival Dinner and social outings. By checking this box, I agree to the TeamWalk Waiver and Release.   Please indicate number of people for each event:   Event Number Other Details Friday TeamWalk arrival party of heavy hors d'oeuvres and baked ham with a cash bar. Special Dietary Needs Number/Age of children needing Babysitting Saturday Continental Breakfast Number/Age of children needing Babysitting Picnic lunch for the kids: TeamWalk Conference lunch of boneless pork chop with cornbread stuffing Saturday Night - Individuals will pay their own expenses: Evening outing to Columbus Crew soccer game Number/Age of children needing babysitting: Evening dinner at Max and Erma's restaurant Submit Registration Form

Step Two For each person being registered, enter their name in the appropriate section (Adult or Child), and select the T-shirt size desired, then click the corresponding "Add to Cart" button. Adult registration for the Weekend (Arrival Social, Conference with breakfast and lunch and TeamWalk with t-shirt) is $75 and the child price (age 14 and under) is $15. To return to this screen to enter another person, click the "Continue Shopping" button in the shopping cart. When done, click "Secure Checkout" in the shopping cart to finish. Your credit card will be billed and you will receive an email confirmation.   Adult Registration ($75) Age 15 and up Name Shirt Size Adult-XLAdult-LAdult-MAdult-S   Child Registration ($15) Age 14 and under Name Shirt Size Youth-LYouth-MYouth-S

Weekend Program at a glance (download flyer here)

Friday, Sept. 30 - Arrival Social!

6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Registration and Hospitality Suite
6:30 p.m. - Arrival Social: Baked ham and hors d'oeuvres with cash bar
Meet others, share stories, make friends
Babysitting with children's movie available - register ahead
Q&A with the SPF Board of Directors

Saturday, Oct. 1 - National Conference!

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Registration and continental breakfast 
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: SPF 2005 National Conference
SPF President's Message
Keynote Speakers (read biographies here):

• SPF Medical Advisor John K. Fink, M.D., U. of Michigan, recipient of SPF Research Award

• Teepu Siddique, M.D., Northwestern University, recipient of SPF Research Award

Programs and displays with a focus on assistive technology, adaptive equipment and therapy
Additional informational and networking programs
Babysitting provided - register ahead

Saturday, Oct. 1 - Post conference evening programs!

Choose from a variety of evening and dinner programs including a Columbus Crew soccer game

Sunday, Oct. 2 - TeamWalk Walkathon!

The TeamWalk will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Convention Center and proceed to Goodale Park
Enjoy fun and social activities for kids and adults
Special awards
Announcement of the SPF 2005 Research Awards

Can't come to Columbus? Attend a local TeamWalk Connection!

West Vancouver, Canada (Sept. 10)
New England (Newport, Rhode Island, Sept. 11)
MidAmerica (Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 17)
Northwest (Pleasanton - near SF, California , Oct. 8)
New York (Long Island, Oct. 16)
Tennessee (Nashville, Oct. 22)
Southwest (Tempe, Arizona, Oct. 23)

“TeamWalk Connections” are our annual community efforts to raise funds for research to find the cure for SPF diseases and to help people affected by the conditions. A Connection event provides the opportunity to meet others affected by HSP or PLS, share stories and concerns, learn and have fun. Then, the group heads out for a TeamWalk walkathon, a fundraising effort where individuals have gotten sponsors for their participation in the TeamWalk.  All sponsorship donation support SPF Research Awards. 

Why Your Support Matters

There is currently no treatment to prevent, stop or reverse the degenerative process in PLS or HSP. These diseases attack one’s ability to walk, often leaving their victims in wheelchairs. They can also rob people of the ability to use their hands and arms, and even to speak or cause other neurological problems as well. The Spastic Paraplegia Foundation is the only organization in the Americas that is dedicated to raising funds specifically for HSP and PLS research. The organization is 100% volunteer managed and the TeamWalk For Our Cures is the national, community event to raise funds for research.