April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, How Can You Help?

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, when Parkinson’s organizations around the world draw attention to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain disorder affecting over 100,000 Canadians and 6 million people worldwide.

Across Canada, Parkinson Awareness Month activities will include Parkinson tulip sales, concerts, breakfasts, educational presentations, conferences and other informational events. “Ten regional partners with 240 chapters and support groups are reaching out to Canadians to let them know that if they or someone they know has Parkinson’s, we’re here for them. We have services and programs in communities across Canada,” says Joyce Gordon, President & CEO, Parkinson Society Canada. The red tulip, the worldwide floral symbol of Parkinson’s will feature prominently in all the activities including sales of fresh cut and potted tulips in public locations across the country.

“Whether someone is newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, or has Young-Onset Parkinson’s, whether they have lived with Parkinson’s for 20 years or they are a family member dealing with the progression and later stages of the disease, we encourage them to turn to Parkinson Society Canada for support, educational materials and advocacy on their behalf,” Gordon added. Parkinson Society Canada also funds research into better treatments, improved quality of life, causes and a cure.

Parkinson’s Awareness Activities include:

• Parkinson SuperWalk 2011 website launch, Monday, April 4th. Parkinson SuperWalk is Canada’s largest annual fundraising event held every September. Parkinson SuperWalk.ca is open for registration. Register now. Walk in September.
• World Parkinson Day, Monday, April 11th, Dr. James Parkinson’s birthday. He first described the symptoms of Parkinson’s in his essay, The Shaking Palsy (1817).
• Opening of the Toronto Stock Exchange, Wednesday, April 13th, by Parkinson Society Canada.

Agencies/Canadajournal