August and September were busy months for the Golden Triangle Support Group with all the final details being made for the annual picnic Sept. 8th, and a fundraising event on International Ataxia Awareness Day (IAAD).

On September 8th the support group hosted the 8th Annual Texas Ataxia Picnic at the Gould Community Center in Vidor, Texas. Due to a major traffic accident in the area (no ataxians were involved) many of the attendees were delayed. The guest were treated to a lunch of grilled hamburgers or hot-dogs. But most important was the visitation of all those who attended.

On September 20, Keith Chesser and Susan Richards appeared on the “Six This Morning” program to promote the upcoming 1st Annual Texas Ataxia Dinner. On September 25th the dinner was held at the Our Lady of Lourdes catholic church. Twenty people attended the fund-raiser raising over $700. The funds from this event will be used in research toward ataxia. We would like to thank Susan Richards, Carol’s Confection’s, Knights of Columbus, Father Fernandez, KFDM-6 TV, and Rip Criss for making the dinner a success. A special thanks goes out to Tracie Middleton, staff reporter of the Vidor Vidorian, who has reported on all the events of the GTSG over the last several years.

Governor Rich Perry issued a proclamation declaring September 25, 2001 as Ataxia Awareness Day in Texas, but was unable to attend the dinner due to a prior commitment. Father Fernadez read the proclamation to the gathering at the dinner.