Jackson Burton
ET has and will always be a big part of my life, but I will not let it stop me.
Lenexa, KS (PRWEB) June 07, 2016
The International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) is pleased to award a $500 scholarship to student Jackson Burton from Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 2016-2017 academic year. Burton is one of four students from across the nation to receive a scholarship award from the IETF.
Burton thought his love for music was over when he was diagnosed with essential tremor (ET). His dreams of playing the guitar now seemed impossible with shaky hands and his unrelenting tremor. But on one cold snow day from school, Burton spent six hours focusing on hitting each note just right until he was able to play the song he loved most. “My ET challenged me, but it did not restrict me.”
Burton’s focus and determination will help him succeed at the University of Cincinnati next year as an incoming freshman. During high school, Burton was Student Body Class President and Secretary of the National Honor Society while maintaining a 4.2 GPA. Instead of dwelling on his ET, he used it as an opportunity to bring awareness to others about the disease and grew more confident among his peers. “ET has and will always be a big part of my life, but I will not let it stop me.”
Essential tremor is a neurological condition that affects more than 10 million Americans. ET causes rhythmic shaking of the hands, head, and voice. ET is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, although eight times more common. ET is characterized by action tremor, making everyday tasks such as eating, drinking, and writing difficult if not impossible. There is no cure for this life-altering condition.
IETF scholarships are awarded to qualified students of all ages who have been diagnosed with ET, to lessen the burden of higher education. The scholarship can be used for supplies, books or tuition at licensed, accredited institutions of higher education (including trade schools) and are paid directly to the educational institution. For more information about the IETF scholarship program, please visit http://www.essentialtremor.org/about-the-ietf/scholarships.
About The International Essential Tremor Foundation:
Headquartered in Lenexa, KS, and founded in 1988, the International Essential Tremor Foundation is the leading organization in the world dedicated to those affected by essential tremor. The mission of the IETF is to fund research that will find the cause of essential tremor and lead to better treatments and a cure, increase awareness about ET, and provide educational materials, tools and support to healthcare providers, the public, and those directly affected by ET.
The IETF has distributed nearly $1 million in research grants, to fund numerous promising studies, in the search for the cause of ET. The Foundation has hosted numerous community awareness events across the U.S. to provide those affected with the basic knowledge necessary to become their own advocate when seeking treatment. And, the IETF also provides assistance to a vast network of support groups around the world. To learn more about essential tremor and the IETF mission, visit the IETF website at http://www.essentialtremor.org.