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Every morning Murray Charters had breakfast with hundreds of people from the worldwide Parkinson's community. Breakfast, of course, was via the computer. A familiar _expression to show appreciation is "Hats off" to an individual. This time we are going to use "Hats on" - read on to see why.

Murray was from Canada and had a real talent for researching. Every morning I awakened to find a minimum of 5-10 emails from Murray. Like many PWP's, Murray had problems sleeping, and he would work into the wee hours sending out his overnight finds to others. If there was ANYTHING mentioned about Parkinson's in the news, Murray was right on top of it.

Many people got to know Murray through his resourceful website, online postings at the Braintalk forum and Toronto Listserv He also did much volunteer work with the British Columbia Parkinson's Disease Association, the Parkinson's Action Network (PAN), and the Parkinson Pipeline Project. Then for the first time many met Murray and his wife, Brenda, at one of the Parkinson's Unity Walks in New York City, where he sponsored a team and raised donations and received the Alan Bolander Humanitarian Award. At the 2004 PAN Forum, Murray received the first ever Outstanding Service to the Parkinson’s Community, an award which now bears his name, the "Murray Charter's Award." Later in 2004, Murray was chosen to serve as an advisor for the book made into a television movie, “Saving Milly”. The Milly Kondracke Story was filmed in Vancouver, and there they found an expert in Murray. In Murray's words, "Pretty good for a redneck elevator mechanic!" Take out the "redneck," and I agree.

Everybody who knew Murray knew him as a friend. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer, the internet world and PD community gave a sigh heard around the world. But no greater inspiration came from anyone than when Murray wrote freely in forums and his online journal about his battle with now two debilitating diseases. His coined phrase "Houston - we have a problem," proved that facing a terminal illness doesn't have to be all dismal.

At Murray's subsequent passing, the cyber-world's information highway was hot with international messages traveling about our friend. Website tributes and forums read around the world had a chance to give back to Murray their appreciation for all he had done (and is still doing posthumously.)

Just before Murray became so ill that he could no longer keep up his internet work, some of his internet friends decided to mail each week a hat to help conceal his balding head due to his chemo treatments. Hats from everywhere arrivedd at Murray's doorstep; some were very special. In the picture here, Murray is with co-advisor, Joy Wainwright, as they both help out on the filming set for the "Saving Milly" movie. Murray is wearing one of his most prized hats, one sent and sutographed by the star and PD icon, Michael J. Fox. Murray also received a hat from Mort Kondracke, Fox News frequent, Executive Editor of Roll Call, author of "Saving Milly," and the husband of the former Millicent Kondracke.

So here you have it. It's easy to see why we changed the wording of "Hats Off" and the true meaning of appreciation to "Hats On - Murray."

Links:
http://www.newhopeforparkinsons.com/web/pid/86/
(See tributes to Murray at www.grassrootsconnection.com )