Actor Michael York….

Actor Michael York….

Photo credit: Janet Donovan

Award-winning actor Michael York discussed the challenges he faces with the rare disease of Amyloidosis and how he became a spokesperson for this little known ailment at a luncheon at The National Press Club. Amyloidosis occurs when abnormal protein builds up in organs. His attitude and resilience is remarkable.  For someone who has appeared next to Liza Minnelli in the cinema version of Cabaret, starred in the all-star Murder on the Orient Express, as d’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, and an actor who has shared the stage with nearly every show business legend from Laurence Olivier to Elizabeth Taylor, he accepts his role as spokesperson with dignity and hope. He first told us about his disease at the Kennedy Center Honors Brunch several years ago. His most recent film is The Mill and The Cross. His wife Pat is a talented and renowned photographer and his stepson is Star Wars producer Rick McCallum.

MIchael York at National Press Club

Prior to the luncheon, we had a chance to discuss York’s other mission for being in town. It’s called The Medical Musical Group. The MMG brings together doctors, nurses and other volunteers from medical centers, schools and communities all over the US.  It’s “Music with a Message” – A message of healing, hope, inspiration, and patriotism at home; and peace and international friendship overseas that serves as goodwill ambassadors for America in over 20 nations. In addition, MMG concerts highlight health causes and performances have been at Carnegie Hall (New York), Kennedy Center and Constitution Hall (Washington, DC), Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall (Alexandria, VA) as well as for the US Congress, the United Nations, and at the White House.

“I just got this email  saying would you be involved? It sounded so wonderful, you know,” York told Hollywood on the Potomac. “We owe so much to our veterans, and as a child of World War II, it all made sense. Also, the artistic involvement is a beautiful concert of words and music, so I was thrilled to do it!”

Michael York at The Press Club

Michael York with Dr. Wahby

“People call us doctors without boarders for Veterans, ” Dr. Victor Wahby told us. Wahby is the founder of MMG. “The people in the group are very patriotic and they have Veterans as a core mission. For example, we are giving 50% the of seats free of charge for Veterans for the concert. Basically I, like many other in the medical field, are frustrated musicians; because you love music but you also love medicine and you try to balance that when you are growing up. Some people are really very gifted musicians and go into music. Those who are half talented musicians like me, go into medicine……..and there is almost a missionary call to help people, to alleviate disease. In fact, right after the concert we travel to South Africa and we call it Healing For the Nations.”

MIchael York at The Press Club

Jane Perkins with Michael York

“The thing that sets Dr. Wahby apart is his enthusiasm,” Jane Perkins told us. “He really believes in this. I came from California, others from all over. We have one or two that come even from Canada to play in the concerts with Dr. Wahby because we really believe in the mission of the orchestra. He is so wonderful as a conductor, we absolutely love him. If you could see him from the perspective of the orchestra when he’s conducting, his face is blooming. It’s like an insane place. He is so devoted to this.” Perkins also has Amyloidosis and has been the subject of experimental treatments.

Christine Warnke and Deena Martin

Dr. Christine Warnke with singer Deena Martin

“I come every year – maybe a couple times a year – with the Medical Musical Group. They’re doctors and they’re musicians and Dr. Wahby is the conductor. It’s for the benefit of the Wounded Warriors and Veterans so we just sing for them and then there’s a reenactment of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. We have our gold star mothers who are there with their families. This year the theme is going to be Star Wars and Shakespeare because we have Michael York; so there will be music and then little vignettes in between and there will be poetry and Shakespeare. I can’t wait to hear Michael York. Then I will perform a few songs with the Symphony Orchestra and it’s just a wonderful, wonderful afternoon. We do it for the both the Veterans and for the MMG.”

Michael York gave a touching talk about Amyloidosis and its challenges both physical and mentally and did so with typical sense of humor and grace:

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