Fed: Govt gives $500,000 for cerebral palsy research

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2005
Fed: Govt gives $500,000 for cerebral palsy research

SYDNEY, Aug 19 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has announced $500,000 federal government
funding to further cerebral palsy research.

Mr Howard made the announcement at the Spastic Centre's diamond anniversary ball in Sydney.

Mr Howard and his wife Janette joined a crowd of 400 at the Grand Ballroom at Luna
Park to celebrate the organisation's 60th birthday.

The funding would go to the establishment of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, which will
be run by the Spastic Centre.

The foundation will fund research, treatment and prevention strategies for the condition,
which has no known cure.

"As an additional source of support I'm very pleased to announce the commonwealth government
will contribute $500,000 to the foundation," Mr Howard told the crowd.

The Spastic Centre was established by Audrie and Neil McLeod in 1945 to support people
with Cerebral Palsy, a physical condition that affects movement.

Mr Howard said the centre's pioneering work had done Australia proud.

Entertainer Jimmy Barnes and his daughter Elly-May, who has cerebral palsy, performed
at the function later.

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KEYWORD: PALSY

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