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PROJECT "Angels on Earth"
A dream of making a difference for
Angels stricken with ALS
 I
would first like to introduce myself. My name is Jane
Bailey Goewey, and my mother, Rose Ann Bailey, was stricken
with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) 6 years ago. Like all
ALS patients she was given the devastating news that
she had on average 2-5 years to live, and that ALS is
a terminal illness with no cure and little treatment.
As anyone can imagine, this news was heartbreaking to
our entire family.
ALS
is a fatal neuromuscular disease, which attacks the
body's motor neurons, or nerve cells. As motor neurons
are destroyed, a person with ALS loses his or her ability
to walk, speak, swallow and breath. Unless we do something,
300,000 seemingly healthy Americans living now will
die from ALS.
This
disease is one of the most horrible diseases I have
ever seen. The heartbreak in watching your best friend
dying and not being able to help in any way is devastating.
I could not just sit back and accept this prognosis;
however, I also knew that I could not discover a cure
either. So I turned to my heart and wrote a song for
my Mom, "You Are an Angel on Earth." This song is a
heartfelt tribute to my Mom, and now my dream is that
through this song, we can make a difference for other
ALS patients.
The initial version of this song
was recorded by local artist, Lilly Wolfson,with her
own composition and has sold 1000 copies in the Albany
Market, with 100% of the proceeds donated to the St
Peter's ALS Regional Center.
I am now embarking on a new version of
the CD, in which I am singing, "You Are An Angel on
Earth" for my Mom. I am accompanied by my dear friend,
Francesca Desormeau who developed the most beautiful
musical composition derived from my original melody.
The production was masterfully recorded by our special
friend, Ray Rettig of Cotton Hill Studios.
The new version of the Angel CD will
also include a fabulous interpretation of the Angel
Song by our very special friends, Grammy Nominee, Geri
King, and Record Producer, Kimo Kaulani (Nuendo Music
Group). Geri and Kimo bring an amazing and inspiring
musical composition with true R & B sensibility.
The Dual Track CD will be available
at the end of January 2005 and can be purchased at Trans
World Entertainment stores (Coconuts and FYE's) throughout
the Capital Region and also at many local retailers.
The CD is also available through this site. Again, 100%
of proceeds will benefit local ALS Patients. We also
plan to take the dual track CD nationally in 2005 with
proceeds going to support ALS Research efforts.
The CD is also part of the ALS Therapy
Development Foundation's national program "Driving 4
Life". "Driving 4 Life" was started by pro golfer Tom
Watson, when his caddie Bruce Edwards, and fellow pro
golfer Jeff Julian were both stricken with the disease.
The campaign, supported by the PGA TOUR, Golf Digest
and other major corporate sponsors is partnering with
Goewey and supporting her efforts to publicize the CD
on nationally syndicated talk shows such as "The TODAY
Show" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
We are also in the process of creating
a compilation CD. We have reached out to prominent artists
far and wide to contribute tracks to this project. All
proceeds from the album will go toward ALS Research.
In December Martina McBride graciously
donated 2 front row seats to her Joy of Christmas Concert,
and a private meet and greet before the concert. Our
very supportive and special friends at MAGIC 100.9,
Jay Scott and Ben Patten, put together a wonderful on-the-air
auction for the tickets, with all proceeds going to
the St Peter's ALS Center.
This Project has really been a beautiful
journey, initially driven by the deep love and admiration
I have for my Mom, and also, now driven by the love
I have for my new friends I have met along this journey
who also struggle the battle with ALS. The many supporters
of our project that I have met along this journey have
been amazing and truly giving and caring in so many
ways, and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
This is a horrible illness, but the kindness and support
that we have come across have made it so much more tolerable.
This Project has truly given my Mom strength
and hope that through this song and her illness, we
may be able to make a difference for other Angels on
Earth.
"I believe in my heart that everything
happens for a reason. I believe I have ALS so that
we can help people to live every day as a gift…..as
I do, and to look at the things we should be thankful
for each and every day. I feel like one of the most
blessed people on earth"
- Rose Ann Bailey
For more information on getting involved
in this exciting project that can make a difference
for these "Angels on Earth," email projectangels@aol.com
or call St Peter's ALS Center
(518) 525-1629.
ALS - Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis
Facts about ALS:
- ALS is a fatal
neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness
and a progressive wasting and paralysis of the muscles.
Patients have a life expectancy of 2-5 years.
- ALS is also
known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, after the Yankee baseball
legend who died from the disease in 1941.
- ALS destroys
motor neurons, which are among the largest of all nerve
cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons are
responsible for sending messages to muscles throughout
the body.
- As motor
neurons are destroyed, muscles weaken and lose their
ability to move. Eventually, most muscles are affected,
including those of the legs, feet arms and hands, and
those that control swallowing and breathing.
- ALS is an
illness that has been stamped "untreatable" for almost
150 years.
- More people
die every year of ALS than of Multiple Sclerosis.
- The incidence
of ALS is about equal to Multiple Sclerosis.
- Unless we
do something, 300,000 seemingly healthy Americans living
now will die from ALS.
Additional Resources:
ALSTDF
(ALS Therapy Development Foundation)
Driving
4 Life
Project
ALS
St.
Peters Hospital ALS Center
The
ALS Association
Muscular
Dystrophy Association
For more information about Project Angels
On Earth, please contact us at projectangels@aol.com
View
Channel 9 News Segment
about Project Angels on Earth
Listen
to Song
To hear a sample of the
song, "You Are An Angel On Earth", recorded
by Jane Goewey with musical composition by Francesca
Desormeau, please click on the link below to download
an MP3.
You
Are An Angel On Earth MP3 @ 128K/sec (1 MG)
Purchase
the CD
The Angels on Earth
CD may be purchased at the following locations:
FYE and Coconut stores in
the Capital Region
(including Saratoga, Glens Falls, and Western
Ma.)
Team Goewey Kia - Latham Circle Mall, Latham, NY
Team Goewey Dodge - Latham, NY
Bookmark - Newton Plaza, Loudonville, NY
Mayfair Jewelers - Latham & Scotia, NY
The Stadium Cafe Restaurant - Saratoga Springs, NY
Boscov's Angel Day - Colonie Center, May 22, Colonie,
NY
To order CD's online,
click
here.
Make
a Donation
Donations
can be mailed to:
St Peter's
ALS Regional Center
315 S. Manning Blvd.
Albany, NY 12208
Project
A.L.S.
511 Avenue of the Americas
PMB 341
New York, NY 10011
Also,
you may make secure online donations at www.projectals.org
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