PPMI | Page 5

A Letter from Sohini Chowdhury Dear Friend, Since the 2010 launch of The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), hundreds of volunteers like you—people with and without Parkinson’s—have stepped up to play a personal role in the pursuit of Parkinson’s disease biomarkers. One clinic visit at a time, you are helping accelerate research that could transform millions of lives. The PPMI team and The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) have been overwhelmed by your willingness and enthusiasm to be part of this critical work. But we aren’t the only ones who have taken notice. Across the Parkinson’s community, patients, family members, caregivers and researchers have written letters to you, the PPMI volunteers, to thank you for your tremendous gift to Parkinson’s research. In this booklet we have compiled a small sampling of the letters we have received. We hope you will accept it as a token of gratitude from a worldwide community touched by your commitment and perseverance. Thank you for participating in PPMI. Sincerely, Sohini Chowdhury Senior Vice President, Research Partnerships The Michael J. Fox Foundation