By: Team MER

Mazda MX-5 Driver, Chris Rhoades, Representing Texas Voice Project

DALLAS, Texas - SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 driver Chris Rhoades, of Dallas, Texas, will run the Texas Voice Project livery for Round Four and Five of the 2009 season, in the hopes of raising awareness and funds for Parkinson Disease

Chris Rhoades and the No. 33 Texas Voice Project MX-5.

Before departing for his freshman year at Dartmouth University, 18-year-old Rhoades will use his passion for motorsports to promote a cause close to home. During Rounds Five of the Mazda MX-5 Cup at Barber Motorsports Park and Round Six at Autobahn Country Club, Rhoades will run logos for the Texas Voice Project on his No. 33 Team MER MX-5 Cup car.

"My grandmother had Parkinson Disease, so the Texas Voice Project's cause is very near to my heart,” said Rhoades. “She was one of the first patients who received treatment from the project"s now-director, Samantha Elandary. Samantha actually conducted the treatment sessions in her own home at that point. Our family is certainly appreciative of the efforts of the Texas Voice Project.”

The Texas Voice Project for Parkinson Disease is dedicated to helping people with Parkinson disease regain and maintain the ability to verbally communicate, regardless of their ability to pay. The Texas Voice Project is a Dallas-based non-profit organization, funded entirely by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and the generosity of grateful patients.

More than 1.5 million people in the United States have Parkinson disease, a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms such as tremor, slowness of movement and impaired balance. Lesser known, is that 89 percent of people with Parkinson's suffer from a Parkinson Related Voice Disorder, a severe, gradual deterioration of vocal abilities that can ultimately result in an inability to verbally communicate.

Since Parkinson disease is progressive and continually challenges those who have it, the Texas Voice Project includes a maintenance program to provide ongoing accountability and encouragement.

The program has since grown into a dedicated facility in Richardson, Texas. An important component of the program is continued tracking of patients’ progress with scheduled follow-up evaluations after the intensive treatment ends.

The No. 33 Texas Voice Project MX-5 makes its debut at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Ala., this weekend. The Round Five race is schedule for Sunday, July 19, at noon (CDT). Rhoades will pilot the car one last time at Autobahn Country Club for Round Six the following weekend, July 24 – 26. More information is available at www.mx-5cup.com and www.rhoadesracing.com. More information about the Texas Voice Project can be found at www.texasvoiceproject.org.