14 - Sunday, September 13, 1992 - North Shore News Play to educate the public about neurological disorder IMAGINE WHAT it would be like to gradually lose control of your hands, your legs, your speech. Fran Belzberg watched as dystonia, a neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable muscle spasms, robbed her eldest daughter Cheri of a normal, healthy life. **She was a dynamic, very pop- ular teenager, when all of a sud- den things began to deteriorate in front of our eyes,”* says Belzberg. It took years for her and hus- band Sam to get «a proper diagnosis for Cheri. When they finally did, they were told there was no cure or treatment for their daughter’s condition. “*That’s when Sam got muotivated,”’ Fran explained of her husband’s move to open the Dystonia Medical Research Foun- dation, which raises money for neurological research and educates people, including doctors, about dystonia. North Vancouver resident Bar- bara Smith suffered for years be- . fore receiving a diagnosis. Then four years ago, after going back and forth to different doctors, someone finally gave her condi- tion 2 name. “‘That’s when I finally found out what I had,’’ said Smith, who was diagnosed with torticollis, a form of dystonia which involves involuntary” contractions. of the neck muscles that twist the head into abnormal positions. In order to educate people about dystonia the’ Belzberg’s foundation is holding its first fundraising event, Storm Reading, a drama by American playwright Neil Marcus, Sept. 13 at the Van- couver Playhouse Theatre. Marcus, who suffers from a severe form of dystonia, weaves together vignettes from his iife in Storm Reading. Greater Vancouver is confronting important * issues on water quality and water supply. Potential waterbome diseases, our water's acidity and sea- _ sonal cloudiness, added to rapid growth in the region all put a strain on our water treatment and distribution system. Our drinking water does not always meet the strict water quality standards set by provincial and federal governments. The Water Quality Improvement Plan -_ Tomake sure residents receive the best possi- - bledrinking water, the Greater Vancouver Regional District has developed the Water Quality Improve- ment Plan (WIP). The Plan suggests many op- photo submitted AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT Neil Marcus (in wheelchair) and actors Matthew ingersoll and Kathryn Voice are the gars of Storm Reading. Sponsored by the Dystonia Medical Research Founde- tion, the play is being staged to help promote grea‘.er ‘awareness of dystonia. “It’s not. a downer,”’ says Belzberg. It’s a poignant, funny story about one man’s triumph over his deficiencies.’” There will be a question and answer session following the play moderated by the foundation’s honorary chairman, Monty Halli. Tickets for Storm Reading are | available at Ticketmaster, 280- 4444, HU LOOK TAP WATER, SEE? GVRD/WOIP, tions to ensure drinking water quality as Greater Vancouver grows. it includes recommendations for enhanced chlorination, a secondary disinfec- tion system, a piping system to transfer water from - Coquitlam during episodes of doudy water in the Seymour and Capilano watersheds, corrosion _ Creating Our Future is a series of 34 actions adopted by the CVRD Board as steps to achievea more healthy and livable region. Actions to improve drinking water qualily area major part of creating a raore livable region. | control and possible filtration to meet present and future guideline requirements. Full imple- mentation of the Water Quality Improvement Plan is estimated to cost $400 million. Public consultation is an important part of the Water Quality improvement Plan. To find out more about water quality improvements, or for more information about the plan and how you can participate in advising the GVRD, contact us: Water & Construction Department 4330. Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4G8 Information Line: 436-6859 / Fax: 432-6297 Greater lancouver Regional District sr eee: SALE BY COACH Between Vancouver and Victoria Purchase a round trip coach ticket on Pacific Coach Lines between Vancouver and Victoria and , receive a discounton your fare. Special Return Trip Fare Between Vancouver and Victoria 35. 50. Early “50 Special >» ONOUROS45 AM,AND O6 454M ‘OCPARTURES gue OUR 06:00 A.M.AND 07:00AM e 30. VICTORIA DEPARTURES ONLY . Fares Include all 8.C. Ferries Talis. Lon t Miss the Boat. (Ad ! NO RESTRICTIONS APPLY ON YOUR RETURN TRIP +" CONVENIENT ON-ROUTE PICK-UPS . SAVE WITH PACIFIC COACH LINES COMMUTER BOOKS — 10 TRIPS FOR THE PRICE OF 9 For further information on Schedules and Pick Up Locations 662-8074 385-4411 VANCOUVER VICTORIA Your and your neighbours in Biueridge, Riverside’ East, McCartney Woods, Windsor Park, Seymour- - Heights, Maplewood and Windridge are invited to a - © Town Meeting in your community. doin Mayor J. Murray Dykeman and Councillors Rick Buchols, Ernest Crist, James Cuthbert, Joan. Gadsby, Janice Harris and Paul Turner at an Open - House te share infermation, plans and concerns about your neighbourhood and your community. Get the latest on: future development in Maplewood Business Park, McCartney Woods, Northiands . environmental issues and recycling parks and open space , transportation and traffic —. community programs, including Block Watch and fire prevention. Drop into Windsor High School, 931 Broadview _° Wednesday, September 16, between 7 and 9 p.m. Call 987-7131 for more information.