By Patrick Cole
Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Buoyed by Senator Barack Obama's victory and a rousing set by The Who, actor Michael J. Fox presided happily over his foundation's Wednesday night fundraiser for Parkinson's disease research at New York's Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers.
``Let's Barack to the future!'' said the 47-year-old Canadian-born star of the ``Back to the Future'' films and ``Family Ties'' television series of the 1980s.
The eighth annual event, called ``A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's,'' felt the bite of economic turmoil as its total funds raised, $4.3 million, was down from $5.5 million last year.
Patrons and celebrities such as film director Martin Scorsese and actor Ben Stiller chatted about Obama's election victory over a dinner of baked chicken, carrots and green beans. Other attendees included Rachael Ray, Derek Jeter and Scarlett Johansson. The gala drew about 800 attendees.
``The atmosphere around the country is dense with anticipation,'' actor Kevin Kline, one of the evening's hosts, said about Obama, who takes office in January.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which the actor founded in 2000 after he was diagnosed with the disease, is optimistic that Obama's presidency will pave the way for more funding and stem-cell research that could help combat the disease, said Katie Hood, the nonprofit's chief executive officer.
``On the stem-cell issue, we say let's move forward,'' Hood said in an interview. ``We need to focus on how to make medical research more efficient. We believe very much in finding a path to a cure.''
Research Support
Ethical concerns, related to the destruction of embryos, have limited research on the cells. In 2001, President George W. Bush put into place a ban on use of federal funding for studying all but a few U.S.-approved cell lines. The Democratically controlled Congress and Obama are expected to offer increased support for stem-cell research.
The foundation has become one of the world's largest private sources of funding for Parkinson's, awarding about $128 million to researchers seeking a cure. The degenerative disease of the motor system results in tremors, body stiffness and loss of reflexes.
The disease didn't hold back Fox, who headed to the stage as The Who neared the end of a vigorous 75-minute set of 12 songs, including the classics ``Pinball Wizard,'' ``See Me, Feel Me'' and ``Who Are You?''
Fox, who has retired from acting and walks with a limp, flashed a broad smile as he strapped on an electric guitar and jammed with the band's remaining founding members, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, on the finale, ``Magic Bus.''
``This is almost worth getting Parkinson's for,'' Fox told the cheering crowd.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Parkinson's event was a success
Our country may be suffering from an economic downturn, but you'd never know it from the Pancakes for Parkinson's breakfast in Westlake Village on Oct. 18. Not only did several local businesses and individuals graciously donate their time, goods and services, but we had over 100 people attend, which was a huge success.
Our first annual event raised over $4,000, which will go to the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
The success of this event can only be attributed to the positive attitude from so many people and businesses in this community.
To the wonderful folks at the Westminster Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their facility, to all those who donated, including Brent's Deli, Starbuck's, Corner Bakery, Mimi's Cafe and dozens of others, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks. We couldn't have done it without you.
To those individuals who have or know someone who has Parkinson's, keep up the fight.
You are not alone.
Jennifer Parkinson, vice president, SFV chapter, APDA Debbie Jew, APDA volunteer Jessica Chadbourn, volunteer
Our first annual event raised over $4,000, which will go to the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
The success of this event can only be attributed to the positive attitude from so many people and businesses in this community.
To the wonderful folks at the Westminster Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their facility, to all those who donated, including Brent's Deli, Starbuck's, Corner Bakery, Mimi's Cafe and dozens of others, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks. We couldn't have done it without you.
To those individuals who have or know someone who has Parkinson's, keep up the fight.
You are not alone.
Jennifer Parkinson, vice president, SFV chapter, APDA Debbie Jew, APDA volunteer Jessica Chadbourn, volunteer
Former teacher artfully prolonging passion
By MERLE ENGLISH
In the predawn hours of Jan. 28, 2005, unable to fall sleep, Lou DeCaro sat up in bed, pondering what to do with the rest of his life.
He would not be returning the next day to teaching, his passion of 33 years - 29 of them spent imparting literature, grammar and the art of writing to seniors at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach.
When school began, the 125 students in his five daily classes would learn that DeCaro, then 54, was forced to give up his career because of progressively worsening symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
DeCaro was playing softball in July 2002 when he felt his left arm shaking. "It started suddenly," he said. He was diagnosed one week later.
Parkinson's involves a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain that control movement, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. It affects 1 million people in the United States, among them retired boxer Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox. Symptoms can include shaking or trembling, stiff muscles, chronic fatigue and pain, and problems with balance or walking. The cause is unknown, and there is no cure.
"Once the nerve cells are destroyed, there is no regeneration," DeCaro said, "so as time goes on, more and more parts of the body are affected. There is a dull, low-grade pain that never leaves you, in the legs, the joints. I experience cramps and spasms throughout the day.
"I simply could not make it through the day teaching," DeCaro said. "The pain and fatigue made it difficult for me to reach my standards. You're constantly battling the urge to fall asleep. ...
"Mobility is a major problem," he added. "I may look fit and young on the outside, but my left arm and left foot are numb most of the time. They feel paralyzed. As time goes by, you walk more slowly. I fought the effects the best I could before going into the classroom. I left brokenhearted because I loved teaching, I loved my students. Teaching to me was a joy of life."
He found a way to prolong that joy. On that first day of his retirement, DeCaro looked through a window at his home in Wading River where he lives alone, taking in his garden with its pond containing goldfish and water lilies, and tame deer that visit his backyard. He thought, "What am I going to do with myself now?" Then, he had an idea. "Why not take up painting?" It was something he had wanted to do since he was a child.
Fulfilling a dream
"That very day, I went out and got supplies, and started reproducing art from get-well cards. Then I started doing my own thing, and it was like a wildfire spreading. It was a feeling of exuberance," he recalled.
In the last 3 1/2 years, without any tutoring, DeCaro produced more than 600 paintings inspired by the work of Renoir, Degas, Manet, Monet, Cézanne and van Gogh, masters of Impressionism, a style characterized by visible brush strokes and emphasis on light and movement that developed in 19th century France.
His newfound avocation recently gave DeCaro an opportunity to return to his first love, but his students were older adults with Parkinson's disease.
On Oct. 17, four residents at the Bristal Assisted Living Community in Massapequa who had never held a paintbrush sat down before easels for a class in painting organized by DeCaro and Bristal management.
For close to two hours, while demonstrating techniques for painting a landscape with acrylics on his own canvas, DeCaro moved back and forth among his students, helping each one create a work of art. "This has good benefits for us," he told them. "It's good hand, eye and muscle exercise."
"Very lightly, a feathering type of effect," he told Dorothy O'Connor, 86, as he made a few brush strokes on her canvas. You're doing fabulously."
"This is coming out very nice, because you can see the cloud contrast," he encouraged Marilyn Schult, 79.
Colorblind and seeing only gray, Kon Schera, 79, had help finding the colors from Judy Svendsen, Bristal's resident relations director, but he was concerned he wasn't doing well. "I think this is a perfect sky," DeCaro remarked. "For someone who can't see color, you're doing an excellent job."
"Very good. I like that," DeCaro told Connie Walsh, 82, as she added mountains. Some paint ran down O'Connor's canvas. "I'm messing it up," she said.
"There is no such thing as messing anything up," DeCaro reassured her. "It's your creation. This is more than I could have imagined."
The residents had been hesitant to participate, but quickly warmed to the new experience. "At first, I said no because I had never painted anything," Schult said later. "I didn't believe I could do it."
O'Connor said, "When I use my hands, my legs shake - part of the Parkinson's, I guess. I feel I made nothing much, but I created something."
"I think it's wonderful if you can participate," Schera commented. "I see very poorly, but it's a wonderful endeavor. I want to get canvas and do experimenting. When's your next class?" he asked DeCaro.
Judy Piazza, a spokeswoman for Bristal, handed out clean brushes and cheered on the residents. She persuaded them to try, noting DeCaro had Parkinson's and took an interest in art, although he never had a lesson. "They were a little leery," she said. "They said they were not painters. But they did a good job. I'm really amazed at what they did."
So was DeCaro. "One of the things I enjoyed most about being a high school teacher was seeing my students achieve beyond my expectations," he said. . "I apply the same principle with the Parkinson's patients. Some of the people here today just didn't know how they were going to lift up their hand and hold a brush, but they did just fine." He got choked up and teary-eyed as Walsh gave him credit for "the first painting I did in my life. I never knew I could do it," she said. "It makes up for everything that was taken away from me."
Psychic gratification
It was fulfillment for DeCaro, who never showed that he was in pain and battling fatigue throughout the session. "Being able to do this is a celebration of life," he said. "I turned a negative into a positive. Just because you have Parkinson's, doesn't mean your life is over."
He glanced at a blue elastic band on his wrist inscribed with the word "Courage." "The people that were here today - what courage they exhibited."
DeCaro has received offers for his work but won't sell them, he said, "because I was painting for my own pleasure." He donated 40 pieces, however, for a fundraising auction Bristal held Thursday, for the American Parkinson's Disease Association Long Island chapter. He raises funds for the association, which he served as president until last month. "My stamina has gotten so poor I had to step aside."
Richard Youngberg, Bristal's executive director, whose grandfather had Parkinson's, welcomed DeCaro's "healing influence that helps the residents want to try something else. ... the recognition that they can do something positive refuels who they are. ... It's a wonderful thing for them to have this opportunity."
DeCaro plans to conduct more painting classes at Bristal. "I could live another 50 years, I could live five," he said. "The time I have has to be spent doing something constructive. I do not have the energy to continue as president of an organization, but I do have the energy to still make a contribution in a way I enjoy the most."
In the predawn hours of Jan. 28, 2005, unable to fall sleep, Lou DeCaro sat up in bed, pondering what to do with the rest of his life.
He would not be returning the next day to teaching, his passion of 33 years - 29 of them spent imparting literature, grammar and the art of writing to seniors at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach.
When school began, the 125 students in his five daily classes would learn that DeCaro, then 54, was forced to give up his career because of progressively worsening symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
DeCaro was playing softball in July 2002 when he felt his left arm shaking. "It started suddenly," he said. He was diagnosed one week later.
Parkinson's involves a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain that control movement, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. It affects 1 million people in the United States, among them retired boxer Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox. Symptoms can include shaking or trembling, stiff muscles, chronic fatigue and pain, and problems with balance or walking. The cause is unknown, and there is no cure.
"Once the nerve cells are destroyed, there is no regeneration," DeCaro said, "so as time goes on, more and more parts of the body are affected. There is a dull, low-grade pain that never leaves you, in the legs, the joints. I experience cramps and spasms throughout the day.
"I simply could not make it through the day teaching," DeCaro said. "The pain and fatigue made it difficult for me to reach my standards. You're constantly battling the urge to fall asleep. ...
"Mobility is a major problem," he added. "I may look fit and young on the outside, but my left arm and left foot are numb most of the time. They feel paralyzed. As time goes by, you walk more slowly. I fought the effects the best I could before going into the classroom. I left brokenhearted because I loved teaching, I loved my students. Teaching to me was a joy of life."
He found a way to prolong that joy. On that first day of his retirement, DeCaro looked through a window at his home in Wading River where he lives alone, taking in his garden with its pond containing goldfish and water lilies, and tame deer that visit his backyard. He thought, "What am I going to do with myself now?" Then, he had an idea. "Why not take up painting?" It was something he had wanted to do since he was a child.
Fulfilling a dream
"That very day, I went out and got supplies, and started reproducing art from get-well cards. Then I started doing my own thing, and it was like a wildfire spreading. It was a feeling of exuberance," he recalled.
In the last 3 1/2 years, without any tutoring, DeCaro produced more than 600 paintings inspired by the work of Renoir, Degas, Manet, Monet, Cézanne and van Gogh, masters of Impressionism, a style characterized by visible brush strokes and emphasis on light and movement that developed in 19th century France.
His newfound avocation recently gave DeCaro an opportunity to return to his first love, but his students were older adults with Parkinson's disease.
On Oct. 17, four residents at the Bristal Assisted Living Community in Massapequa who had never held a paintbrush sat down before easels for a class in painting organized by DeCaro and Bristal management.
For close to two hours, while demonstrating techniques for painting a landscape with acrylics on his own canvas, DeCaro moved back and forth among his students, helping each one create a work of art. "This has good benefits for us," he told them. "It's good hand, eye and muscle exercise."
"Very lightly, a feathering type of effect," he told Dorothy O'Connor, 86, as he made a few brush strokes on her canvas. You're doing fabulously."
"This is coming out very nice, because you can see the cloud contrast," he encouraged Marilyn Schult, 79.
Colorblind and seeing only gray, Kon Schera, 79, had help finding the colors from Judy Svendsen, Bristal's resident relations director, but he was concerned he wasn't doing well. "I think this is a perfect sky," DeCaro remarked. "For someone who can't see color, you're doing an excellent job."
"Very good. I like that," DeCaro told Connie Walsh, 82, as she added mountains. Some paint ran down O'Connor's canvas. "I'm messing it up," she said.
"There is no such thing as messing anything up," DeCaro reassured her. "It's your creation. This is more than I could have imagined."
The residents had been hesitant to participate, but quickly warmed to the new experience. "At first, I said no because I had never painted anything," Schult said later. "I didn't believe I could do it."
O'Connor said, "When I use my hands, my legs shake - part of the Parkinson's, I guess. I feel I made nothing much, but I created something."
"I think it's wonderful if you can participate," Schera commented. "I see very poorly, but it's a wonderful endeavor. I want to get canvas and do experimenting. When's your next class?" he asked DeCaro.
Judy Piazza, a spokeswoman for Bristal, handed out clean brushes and cheered on the residents. She persuaded them to try, noting DeCaro had Parkinson's and took an interest in art, although he never had a lesson. "They were a little leery," she said. "They said they were not painters. But they did a good job. I'm really amazed at what they did."
So was DeCaro. "One of the things I enjoyed most about being a high school teacher was seeing my students achieve beyond my expectations," he said. . "I apply the same principle with the Parkinson's patients. Some of the people here today just didn't know how they were going to lift up their hand and hold a brush, but they did just fine." He got choked up and teary-eyed as Walsh gave him credit for "the first painting I did in my life. I never knew I could do it," she said. "It makes up for everything that was taken away from me."
Psychic gratification
It was fulfillment for DeCaro, who never showed that he was in pain and battling fatigue throughout the session. "Being able to do this is a celebration of life," he said. "I turned a negative into a positive. Just because you have Parkinson's, doesn't mean your life is over."
He glanced at a blue elastic band on his wrist inscribed with the word "Courage." "The people that were here today - what courage they exhibited."
DeCaro has received offers for his work but won't sell them, he said, "because I was painting for my own pleasure." He donated 40 pieces, however, for a fundraising auction Bristal held Thursday, for the American Parkinson's Disease Association Long Island chapter. He raises funds for the association, which he served as president until last month. "My stamina has gotten so poor I had to step aside."
Richard Youngberg, Bristal's executive director, whose grandfather had Parkinson's, welcomed DeCaro's "healing influence that helps the residents want to try something else. ... the recognition that they can do something positive refuels who they are. ... It's a wonderful thing for them to have this opportunity."
DeCaro plans to conduct more painting classes at Bristal. "I could live another 50 years, I could live five," he said. "The time I have has to be spent doing something constructive. I do not have the energy to continue as president of an organization, but I do have the energy to still make a contribution in a way I enjoy the most."
Avis Presents 2008 Spirit Awards to Athletes Driven to Succeed at ING New York City Marathon
Alyssa Johnson Recognized for Courage and Perseverance at Annual Pre-Marathon Celebration
NEW YORK, NY, Oct 29, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- New York Road Runners and Avis Rent A Car System, LLC, announced today that Yannick Benjamin and Alyssa Johnson have won the Avis Spirit Award in conjunction with the ING New York City Marathon 2008. The award, previously known as the Avis "We Try Harder" Award, celebrates people who endeavor to overcome considerable obstacles through courage and extraordinary effort. For the fifth consecutive year, a panel that included representatives from Avis, Achilles Track Club and New York Road Runners selected the two winners from among hundreds of ING New York City Marathon participants nominated by friends and family. The awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 29 at Tavern on the Green.
Alyssa Johnson, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Johnson was only 40 years old when she was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 2005. Her Parkinson's impaired the right side of her body, which has left her to run by dragging her right leg and unable to swing her right arm. Though she often struggles through her runs, and at times there is more walking than running, she perseveres. She is determined to reach the finish line of the ING New York City Marathon and raise awareness, along with funds for Parkinson's disease. As a member of Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation's community fundraising program, Johnson has raised close to $78,000 for Parkinson's research. Johnson's story is unique in that she is fighting a serious disease, but she is no different than any other runner: facing challenges and pushing forward to achieve a goal. She is a true athlete and an inspiration to any runner. Her story is one of courage, persistence and hope.
"We congratulate Yannick and Alyssa for the extraordinary commitment they have shown to reach this year's race," said Becky Alseth, senior vice president of marketing for Avis Budget Group, parent of Avis. "Their drive for excellence despite many obstacles inspires all of us at Avis to provide the service and tools that people with disabilities need to achieve, no matter what their goal."
NEW YORK, NY, Oct 29, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- New York Road Runners and Avis Rent A Car System, LLC, announced today that Yannick Benjamin and Alyssa Johnson have won the Avis Spirit Award in conjunction with the ING New York City Marathon 2008. The award, previously known as the Avis "We Try Harder" Award, celebrates people who endeavor to overcome considerable obstacles through courage and extraordinary effort. For the fifth consecutive year, a panel that included representatives from Avis, Achilles Track Club and New York Road Runners selected the two winners from among hundreds of ING New York City Marathon participants nominated by friends and family. The awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 29 at Tavern on the Green.
Alyssa Johnson, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Johnson was only 40 years old when she was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 2005. Her Parkinson's impaired the right side of her body, which has left her to run by dragging her right leg and unable to swing her right arm. Though she often struggles through her runs, and at times there is more walking than running, she perseveres. She is determined to reach the finish line of the ING New York City Marathon and raise awareness, along with funds for Parkinson's disease. As a member of Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation's community fundraising program, Johnson has raised close to $78,000 for Parkinson's research. Johnson's story is unique in that she is fighting a serious disease, but she is no different than any other runner: facing challenges and pushing forward to achieve a goal. She is a true athlete and an inspiration to any runner. Her story is one of courage, persistence and hope.
"We congratulate Yannick and Alyssa for the extraordinary commitment they have shown to reach this year's race," said Becky Alseth, senior vice president of marketing for Avis Budget Group, parent of Avis. "Their drive for excellence despite many obstacles inspires all of us at Avis to provide the service and tools that people with disabilities need to achieve, no matter what their goal."
Scarlett Johansson to Cheer on Ryan Reynolds at Marathon
By Danielle Anderson
Ryan Reynolds is planning to run the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday – against his better judgment.
"I would sooner be prime minister of the moon than run another marathon," the actor said in New York on Friday. "I've been really lucky. I didn't have any toenails fall off or anything disgusting like that. I still have all three nipples."
The actor said his new wife, actress Scarlett Johansson, has been giving him a lot of love and support, and would be there Sunday. "She'll be on the road somewhere," he says. "She better be."
Reynolds started training for the event five months ago because he "is not a born runner."
He announced in September he would run on behalf of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Reynolds credits his father, Jim Reynolds, "who's spent the last 15 years in a life or death struggle with Parkinson's Disease." With his dad as inspiration, Reynolds joined Team Fox and has already raised $80,011.08 for the Foundation's mission to cure Parkinson's.
Ryan Reynolds is planning to run the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday – against his better judgment.
"I would sooner be prime minister of the moon than run another marathon," the actor said in New York on Friday. "I've been really lucky. I didn't have any toenails fall off or anything disgusting like that. I still have all three nipples."
The actor said his new wife, actress Scarlett Johansson, has been giving him a lot of love and support, and would be there Sunday. "She'll be on the road somewhere," he says. "She better be."
Reynolds started training for the event five months ago because he "is not a born runner."
He announced in September he would run on behalf of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Reynolds credits his father, Jim Reynolds, "who's spent the last 15 years in a life or death struggle with Parkinson's Disease." With his dad as inspiration, Reynolds joined Team Fox and has already raised $80,011.08 for the Foundation's mission to cure Parkinson's.
Tackling Parkinson's head on
JEFF TOLLAN jeff.tollan@timaruherald.co.nz - South Canterbury
AGAINST THE ODDS: Peter Dawkins speaking openly about living with Parkinson's Disease at the Timaru District Library yesterday.
IT HAS been a life of ups and downs for Peter Dawkins.
Yesterday he was sharing his experience of battling against Parkinson's Disease.
Now living in Australia, Mr Dawkins spoke frankly to about 50 people at the Timaru District Library about living with the disease and the life-changing surgery he had to combat it.
He was a familiar name in the music scene in the `60s and `70s and produced Shane's St Paul and the Apra Song of the Century, Nature, by the Fourmuyla's.
Mr Dawkins was one of the first in Australia to undergo deep brain stimulation - an operation to essentially bypass or interfere with the impaired brain rhythms associated with the disease, restoring normal movement.
The first attempt at the treatment had limited effect, other than to `keep him going'. But seven years later he underwent the same operation with a different medical team and it was a success.
He spoke of his experience on the operating table when he knew doctors had hit the right spot in his brain.
"It was quite amazing. (I was) shaking like hell ... two doctors were holding my legs down ... (the operating team) came to the right spot and then ... peace.
"The second operation was better than the first. I was free of all symptoms."
Mr Dawkins said while the operation was not a cure for Parkinson's, he would have died without it.
He was 42 when he was first diagnosed with the disease and now turns 62 later this year.
Mr Dawkins said most people only lived for about 11 years with the disease.
"Most people with Parkinson's end up in hospital, which is the wrong place to be I believe," he said.
While he has had to step back from his job in the Australian music industry and takes on about one job every six months, Mr Dawkins still counts himself lucky.
He has written an autobiography, encompassing his love of music and also coping with Parkinson's, with the hope of it helping other people with the disease.
Titled The Icecream Boy, it is named after his days of working at the Regent Theatre in Timaru with the proceeds from sales going to Parkinson's Australia. Copies are not on sale in New Zealand, but can be obtained by e-mailing r.f.skelts@xtra.co.nz
AGAINST THE ODDS: Peter Dawkins speaking openly about living with Parkinson's Disease at the Timaru District Library yesterday.
IT HAS been a life of ups and downs for Peter Dawkins.
Yesterday he was sharing his experience of battling against Parkinson's Disease.
Now living in Australia, Mr Dawkins spoke frankly to about 50 people at the Timaru District Library about living with the disease and the life-changing surgery he had to combat it.
He was a familiar name in the music scene in the `60s and `70s and produced Shane's St Paul and the Apra Song of the Century, Nature, by the Fourmuyla's.
Mr Dawkins was one of the first in Australia to undergo deep brain stimulation - an operation to essentially bypass or interfere with the impaired brain rhythms associated with the disease, restoring normal movement.
The first attempt at the treatment had limited effect, other than to `keep him going'. But seven years later he underwent the same operation with a different medical team and it was a success.
He spoke of his experience on the operating table when he knew doctors had hit the right spot in his brain.
"It was quite amazing. (I was) shaking like hell ... two doctors were holding my legs down ... (the operating team) came to the right spot and then ... peace.
"The second operation was better than the first. I was free of all symptoms."
Mr Dawkins said while the operation was not a cure for Parkinson's, he would have died without it.
He was 42 when he was first diagnosed with the disease and now turns 62 later this year.
Mr Dawkins said most people only lived for about 11 years with the disease.
"Most people with Parkinson's end up in hospital, which is the wrong place to be I believe," he said.
While he has had to step back from his job in the Australian music industry and takes on about one job every six months, Mr Dawkins still counts himself lucky.
He has written an autobiography, encompassing his love of music and also coping with Parkinson's, with the hope of it helping other people with the disease.
Titled The Icecream Boy, it is named after his days of working at the Regent Theatre in Timaru with the proceeds from sales going to Parkinson's Australia. Copies are not on sale in New Zealand, but can be obtained by e-mailing r.f.skelts@xtra.co.nz
Adventurer, 72, scales mountains for a cause
A Williams Island woman is making her sixth mountain climb -- at age 72 -- to raise money for medical research.
BY REBECCA DELLAGLORIA
Iloo Gruder is an ordinary woman -- or so she would have you believe. She shops at Aventura Mall. She dotes on her husband of 52 years.
And, at 72, she's climbing the Himalayas.
Last week, the Williams Island septuagenarian traveled halfway around the world to begin a high-altitude trek through the Himalayan mountain range in Bhutan.
By Wednesday, she had neared the midpoint of her journey, making it 6,000 feet off the ground.
Gruder, small-framed and sporting a chic gray bob, is a woman on a mission.
She uses her mountain-climbing expeditions -- six in all -- to raise money for medical research that is close to her heart.
One of her daughters suffers from multiple sclerosis. Her husband, Robert, is battling Parkinson's disease.
''The biggest mountain is for the people I'm climbing for,'' said Gruder, a former elementary school teacher, who is making the trip with a group of more than a dozen other climbers. ``They're the ones who have the mountains.''
This is her sixth climb in 12 years.
Gruder traveled to Africa and scaled Mount Kilimanjaro's 19,340-foot peak. She's reached the base camp of Mount Everest, between Nepal and Tibet, climbed Peru's Machu Picchu, Japan's Mount Fuji and conquered Mount Blanc in the Alps of northern Europe.
But Gruder said mountain climbing is one of the easier challenges she's faced.
In 1995, one of Gruder's four daughters was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She completed her first climb a year later, raising $25,000 to fight the disease that afflicts her daughter.
''There are very few people in the world that are as awesome as she is,'' said Cindy Yonover, Gruder's daughter.
Yonover, who lives in Hawaii with her husband, was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disorder while training for a marathon.
''The whole idea of going on a trip for a cause that is near and dear to her heart is amazing,'' Yonover said. ``She sets a wonderful example for the whole world.''
Two of Yonover's sisters are traveling with their mom through the Himalayas.
''Not only is she my idol, my mentor, but physically, she's in incredible shape,'' said daughter Tammy Hussin, 46, who is on the trip with her mother. ``I hope we can do climbs after this. But if it's the last one, it will be the best one.''
Gruder adheres to a strict training schedule. She works out six days a week -- lifting weights, jogging on the treadmill and building endurance on the elliptical machine.
Over the years, Gruder's ambitious climbs have raised more than $150,000 for research. She asks friends, relatives -- and anybody else -- to ''buy'' her steps.
This year's trip has an added purpose. For the first time, Gruder is also raising money to fund research for Parkinson's disease in honor of her husband.
'Whenever anybody is sick or anybody dies, I always say, `go to nature.' It's so therapeutic,'' said Gruder, who fell in love with mountain climbing in Aspen, where she and her husband had a second home.
Climbing the Rocky Mountains gave her a sense of joy -- and inspired her to take on greater heights.
''The only thing I ever cared about was that hearty feeling of exercise and strength,'' said Gruder, whose first big-league climb up Kilimanjaro brought the same rush, only magnified.
''It feels like walking on the moon,'' she said.
Now an accomplished climber, she has developed rituals over the years.
She always wears her signature red jacket. She always snaps pictures along the trail, which she keeps in scrapbooks commemorating each climb.
And, each time she reaches her destination, she cracks open a bottle of champagne in celebration.
This trip has already raised at least $14,000. Gruder says more checks may be waiting for her when she returns.
The money will go to the University of Miami's Department of Neurology to fund efforts to fight both multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's.
''She's setting a kind of example that we hope other interested citizens would do to improve public health and improve the care of many patients,'' said Ralph L. Sacco, chairman of UM's neurology department.
Part of Gruder's donation will help build a clinic for patients with movement disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
''If everybody gives a little bit, it adds up to a sizable amount,'' he said.
Robert Gruder, a retired hotelier who once owned the Monaco in Sunny Isles Beach, usually awaits his wife at the foot of the mountain -- with champagne in hand.
This time, however, the couple will meet up in Paris.
He was able to speak to his wife Wednesday morning.
''By some fluke, the phone worked,'' Gruder said.
While he doesn't fear for his wife's safety, he hopes this is her last climb; although, Iloo Gruder might not be ready to quit.
''I heard her voice,'' said her husband. ``And she sounded absolutely marvelous.''
BY REBECCA DELLAGLORIA
Iloo Gruder is an ordinary woman -- or so she would have you believe. She shops at Aventura Mall. She dotes on her husband of 52 years.
And, at 72, she's climbing the Himalayas.
Last week, the Williams Island septuagenarian traveled halfway around the world to begin a high-altitude trek through the Himalayan mountain range in Bhutan.
By Wednesday, she had neared the midpoint of her journey, making it 6,000 feet off the ground.
Gruder, small-framed and sporting a chic gray bob, is a woman on a mission.
She uses her mountain-climbing expeditions -- six in all -- to raise money for medical research that is close to her heart.
One of her daughters suffers from multiple sclerosis. Her husband, Robert, is battling Parkinson's disease.
''The biggest mountain is for the people I'm climbing for,'' said Gruder, a former elementary school teacher, who is making the trip with a group of more than a dozen other climbers. ``They're the ones who have the mountains.''
This is her sixth climb in 12 years.
Gruder traveled to Africa and scaled Mount Kilimanjaro's 19,340-foot peak. She's reached the base camp of Mount Everest, between Nepal and Tibet, climbed Peru's Machu Picchu, Japan's Mount Fuji and conquered Mount Blanc in the Alps of northern Europe.
But Gruder said mountain climbing is one of the easier challenges she's faced.
In 1995, one of Gruder's four daughters was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She completed her first climb a year later, raising $25,000 to fight the disease that afflicts her daughter.
''There are very few people in the world that are as awesome as she is,'' said Cindy Yonover, Gruder's daughter.
Yonover, who lives in Hawaii with her husband, was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disorder while training for a marathon.
''The whole idea of going on a trip for a cause that is near and dear to her heart is amazing,'' Yonover said. ``She sets a wonderful example for the whole world.''
Two of Yonover's sisters are traveling with their mom through the Himalayas.
''Not only is she my idol, my mentor, but physically, she's in incredible shape,'' said daughter Tammy Hussin, 46, who is on the trip with her mother. ``I hope we can do climbs after this. But if it's the last one, it will be the best one.''
Gruder adheres to a strict training schedule. She works out six days a week -- lifting weights, jogging on the treadmill and building endurance on the elliptical machine.
Over the years, Gruder's ambitious climbs have raised more than $150,000 for research. She asks friends, relatives -- and anybody else -- to ''buy'' her steps.
This year's trip has an added purpose. For the first time, Gruder is also raising money to fund research for Parkinson's disease in honor of her husband.
'Whenever anybody is sick or anybody dies, I always say, `go to nature.' It's so therapeutic,'' said Gruder, who fell in love with mountain climbing in Aspen, where she and her husband had a second home.
Climbing the Rocky Mountains gave her a sense of joy -- and inspired her to take on greater heights.
''The only thing I ever cared about was that hearty feeling of exercise and strength,'' said Gruder, whose first big-league climb up Kilimanjaro brought the same rush, only magnified.
''It feels like walking on the moon,'' she said.
Now an accomplished climber, she has developed rituals over the years.
She always wears her signature red jacket. She always snaps pictures along the trail, which she keeps in scrapbooks commemorating each climb.
And, each time she reaches her destination, she cracks open a bottle of champagne in celebration.
This trip has already raised at least $14,000. Gruder says more checks may be waiting for her when she returns.
The money will go to the University of Miami's Department of Neurology to fund efforts to fight both multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's.
''She's setting a kind of example that we hope other interested citizens would do to improve public health and improve the care of many patients,'' said Ralph L. Sacco, chairman of UM's neurology department.
Part of Gruder's donation will help build a clinic for patients with movement disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
''If everybody gives a little bit, it adds up to a sizable amount,'' he said.
Robert Gruder, a retired hotelier who once owned the Monaco in Sunny Isles Beach, usually awaits his wife at the foot of the mountain -- with champagne in hand.
This time, however, the couple will meet up in Paris.
He was able to speak to his wife Wednesday morning.
''By some fluke, the phone worked,'' Gruder said.
While he doesn't fear for his wife's safety, he hopes this is her last climb; although, Iloo Gruder might not be ready to quit.
''I heard her voice,'' said her husband. ``And she sounded absolutely marvelous.''
Self Published Book Chronicles a Life with Parkinson's Disease
Author Bonnie McCollough Broadhead recounts her husband’s experience with Parkinson’s disease in this Xlibris published book order to help other who suffer the infirmity
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 16, 2008 – The Xlibris release, Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s, chronicles Calvin Broadhead’s life and his efforts to survive Parkinson’s disease. Author Bonnie McCollough Broadhead brings full attention to her husband’s story and the degenerative disease that has beset Calvin and people in their twilight years.
Parkinson’s disease impairs a person’s motor skills, speech and other motor functions due to the degeneration of the central nervous system. The manifestation of this disease can range from movement disorders to high-level cognitive dysfunction to subtle language problems. It is these symptoms and other experiences that Bonnie details in this self-published book.
Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s also highlight’s the title character’s strength and courage throughout his experience of failing health. It is the Bonnie’s intention to bring wisdom pertaining to Parkinson’s disease, so others who suffer the illness can learn from similar circumstances that Calvin went through.
Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s is a helpful resource for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and people who have loved ones who suffer from the illness.
About the Author
Bonnie McCollough Broadhead was born December 25, 1928, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was the first born of five children into the family of Amanda Josephine Hensarling McCollough and Myles McCollough. She finished high school and earned two years of college. She married Calvin C. Broadhead in January 1947 and they has two daughters -- Carmen Colleen Broadhead Malone and Deborah Amanda Broadhead Houston.
Calvin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1987 shortly after his retirement. He died July 9, 2002. Both their daughters and all three of Bonnie's brothers are very attentive to her. They take special care of her needs. Bonnie now resides in Madison, Mississippi, with her oldest daughter.
About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 16, 2008 – The Xlibris release, Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s, chronicles Calvin Broadhead’s life and his efforts to survive Parkinson’s disease. Author Bonnie McCollough Broadhead brings full attention to her husband’s story and the degenerative disease that has beset Calvin and people in their twilight years.
Parkinson’s disease impairs a person’s motor skills, speech and other motor functions due to the degeneration of the central nervous system. The manifestation of this disease can range from movement disorders to high-level cognitive dysfunction to subtle language problems. It is these symptoms and other experiences that Bonnie details in this self-published book.
Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s also highlight’s the title character’s strength and courage throughout his experience of failing health. It is the Bonnie’s intention to bring wisdom pertaining to Parkinson’s disease, so others who suffer the illness can learn from similar circumstances that Calvin went through.
Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s is a helpful resource for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and people who have loved ones who suffer from the illness.
About the Author
Bonnie McCollough Broadhead was born December 25, 1928, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was the first born of five children into the family of Amanda Josephine Hensarling McCollough and Myles McCollough. She finished high school and earned two years of college. She married Calvin C. Broadhead in January 1947 and they has two daughters -- Carmen Colleen Broadhead Malone and Deborah Amanda Broadhead Houston.
Calvin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1987 shortly after his retirement. He died July 9, 2002. Both their daughters and all three of Bonnie's brothers are very attentive to her. They take special care of her needs. Bonnie now resides in Madison, Mississippi, with her oldest daughter.
About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.
City man crusades in fight against Parkinson's
By: SLOAN BREWSTER, Press staff
MIDDLETOWN - Jeffrey LaGrange has all sorts of ideas on how to get folks to donate money to help cure Parkinson's disease.
This week, to reach his goal of raising $1,000 in contributions for Team Fox - a part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation that helps individuals and groups raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's research - LaGrange has set up containers in various businesses around town and will keep them out throughout the weekend.
"[Team Fox is] for people like you and me who have bake sales and pancake sales to raise money for Fox," saidLaGrange of Middletown.
There is a donation container at Dunkin Donuts in Stop & Shop.
"When you pay for your donuts and you have 50 cents change, you put in there," LaGrange suggested.
He put a container at Illiano's Restaurant on Washington Street, and when he went to pick up the donations, an employee handed him a "wad of $10 bills," LaGrange said. The cash was from employees who pooled their tips and gave a percentage to the cause. In total, LaGrange received $50 from them, which pleased him immensely.
Middletown Public Schools Central Office is also participating. Every employee who donates $5 will get to wear jeans to work Friday.
"We just think it's a terrific foundation that we have historically tried to contribute to, to try and cure Parkinson's," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette.
But the big day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when LaGrange, his wife, Jean, and their son and daughter, Brandon and Becky, will hang out in front of Stop & Shop to discuss the disease with passersby and ask for contributions.
"He asked us if he could set up shop and do his fundraiser out there; we said sure," said Assistant Store Manager Chris Ginolfi. "He seems very, very dedicated to that charity and I was very impressed with that. Anything we can do."
And just in case someone wants to donate, but cannot make it to out Saturday, there will be a bucket in the store, at the courtesy desk all weekend, Ginolfi promised.
"It's well-known, its something that affects a lot of people," Ginolfi said about Parkinson's. "[Jeff's] very passionate about it. It's good to see that there are still people in the world who care about stuff."
LaGrange's dedication is due to a couple of reasons.
One is personal. In January 2004, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's after months of wondering what was causing the tremors and weakness he had been experiencing.
But LaGrange's personal battle with the disease is not the only reason he wants to raise money for a cure. He is also fond of Michael J. Fox, whom he has met on several occasions. Everyone who raises $1,000 or more gets to meet the star at a dinner in New York City.
"He is the most lovely, wonderful, sweet gentleman you can ever meet ... humble," LaGrange flattered. "You say, 'Thanks Michael, for raising $126 million,' and he says 'Thanks for your $1,000 because yours was harder, because all I did was call Bill Gates.'"
The Fox Foundation has funded $126 million in research toward treatments for Parkinson's.
Last year, there were 85 people in attendance at the dinner "and [Fox] knows everybody's name, and he thanks everyone," LaGrange said.
"The perk of having Parkinson's is to be in the same category as Michael J. Fox," he said. "Who else is gonna cure Parkinson's but the Fox Foundation?" LaGrange is also a supporter of the Fox Foundation because of how much it gives toward Parkinson's research.
"84 cents out of every dollar - which is huge - goes to research," he said. "I think that's incredible, 84 percent."
Just try and walk past LaGrange without donating Saturday. He is well-skilled at encouragement and has a way of looking at someone and making them feel just guilty enough to give. It's a deliberate skill he uses because he believes in what he is doing, he said.
"Last year I made $1,100," he boasted.
To contact Sloan Brewster, call her at (860) 347-3331, ext. 211, or e-mail her at sbrewster@middletownpress.com
MIDDLETOWN - Jeffrey LaGrange has all sorts of ideas on how to get folks to donate money to help cure Parkinson's disease.
This week, to reach his goal of raising $1,000 in contributions for Team Fox - a part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation that helps individuals and groups raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's research - LaGrange has set up containers in various businesses around town and will keep them out throughout the weekend.
"[Team Fox is] for people like you and me who have bake sales and pancake sales to raise money for Fox," saidLaGrange of Middletown.
There is a donation container at Dunkin Donuts in Stop & Shop.
"When you pay for your donuts and you have 50 cents change, you put in there," LaGrange suggested.
He put a container at Illiano's Restaurant on Washington Street, and when he went to pick up the donations, an employee handed him a "wad of $10 bills," LaGrange said. The cash was from employees who pooled their tips and gave a percentage to the cause. In total, LaGrange received $50 from them, which pleased him immensely.
Middletown Public Schools Central Office is also participating. Every employee who donates $5 will get to wear jeans to work Friday.
"We just think it's a terrific foundation that we have historically tried to contribute to, to try and cure Parkinson's," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette.
But the big day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when LaGrange, his wife, Jean, and their son and daughter, Brandon and Becky, will hang out in front of Stop & Shop to discuss the disease with passersby and ask for contributions.
"He asked us if he could set up shop and do his fundraiser out there; we said sure," said Assistant Store Manager Chris Ginolfi. "He seems very, very dedicated to that charity and I was very impressed with that. Anything we can do."
And just in case someone wants to donate, but cannot make it to out Saturday, there will be a bucket in the store, at the courtesy desk all weekend, Ginolfi promised.
"It's well-known, its something that affects a lot of people," Ginolfi said about Parkinson's. "[Jeff's] very passionate about it. It's good to see that there are still people in the world who care about stuff."
LaGrange's dedication is due to a couple of reasons.
One is personal. In January 2004, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's after months of wondering what was causing the tremors and weakness he had been experiencing.
But LaGrange's personal battle with the disease is not the only reason he wants to raise money for a cure. He is also fond of Michael J. Fox, whom he has met on several occasions. Everyone who raises $1,000 or more gets to meet the star at a dinner in New York City.
"He is the most lovely, wonderful, sweet gentleman you can ever meet ... humble," LaGrange flattered. "You say, 'Thanks Michael, for raising $126 million,' and he says 'Thanks for your $1,000 because yours was harder, because all I did was call Bill Gates.'"
The Fox Foundation has funded $126 million in research toward treatments for Parkinson's.
Last year, there were 85 people in attendance at the dinner "and [Fox] knows everybody's name, and he thanks everyone," LaGrange said.
"The perk of having Parkinson's is to be in the same category as Michael J. Fox," he said. "Who else is gonna cure Parkinson's but the Fox Foundation?" LaGrange is also a supporter of the Fox Foundation because of how much it gives toward Parkinson's research.
"84 cents out of every dollar - which is huge - goes to research," he said. "I think that's incredible, 84 percent."
Just try and walk past LaGrange without donating Saturday. He is well-skilled at encouragement and has a way of looking at someone and making them feel just guilty enough to give. It's a deliberate skill he uses because he believes in what he is doing, he said.
"Last year I made $1,100," he boasted.
To contact Sloan Brewster, call her at (860) 347-3331, ext. 211, or e-mail her at sbrewster@middletownpress.com
Golf Greats at Sugarbush Resort to Fight Parkinson's Disease
By AlpineZone News
WARREN, Vermont -- LPGA standout Laura Diaz will join her brother PGA Professional Champion Ron Philo Jr. at Sugarbush for the resort's "Driving for a Cure" for Parkinson's disease event on Friday, September 5th.
Diaz, a two-time LPGA tour winner and four-time Solheim Cup team member, will conduct a free kids' clinic at the Sugarbush Golf Club on Friday, Sept 5th at 4:00 p.m. Her brother Ron, who is also Sugarbush's golf pro, will be on hand as well to offer his expertise. Following the clinic, Diaz will serve as celebrity chef at the "Driving for a Cure" against Parkinson's Disease fundraising gala at Timbers Restaurant in Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak Village. The event is being held in cooperation with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which will receive half of the proceeds from each $150 ticket sold.
"Sugarbush is proud to be a part of an event like this," said resort president Win Smith. "Parkinson's is an insidious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Both Laura and Ron are stars in the golf world and lending their celebrity to an event like this really helps in not only raising money for the fight (against Parkinson's), but helps to elevate awareness about the disease."
The brother-sister team grew up playing golf in New England. Philo has been a three-time New England PGA Player of the Year, three-time Vermont PGA Champion, and has played in eight major championships including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. He won the PGA Professional Championship in 2006 and became Sugarbush's resident pro in 2007. Diaz attended Wake Forest University where she was the 1995 ACC champion and 1997 Female Athlete of the Year. She has won two LPGA titles, notched 50 top-ten finishes, and earned more than $4 million in her career.
Friday's events also serve as the kick-off to Sugarbush's Castlerock Open. The four-ball stroke play event (better ball of partners) gets underway Friday with practice rounds being played at the Sugarbush Golf Club. Tournament play begins Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. Diaz will offer a golf demonstration at 11:00 a.m.
For more information on the Castlerock Open and the "Driving for a Cure" fundraising event, visit the Events page at sugarbush.com.
WARREN, Vermont -- LPGA standout Laura Diaz will join her brother PGA Professional Champion Ron Philo Jr. at Sugarbush for the resort's "Driving for a Cure" for Parkinson's disease event on Friday, September 5th.
Diaz, a two-time LPGA tour winner and four-time Solheim Cup team member, will conduct a free kids' clinic at the Sugarbush Golf Club on Friday, Sept 5th at 4:00 p.m. Her brother Ron, who is also Sugarbush's golf pro, will be on hand as well to offer his expertise. Following the clinic, Diaz will serve as celebrity chef at the "Driving for a Cure" against Parkinson's Disease fundraising gala at Timbers Restaurant in Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak Village. The event is being held in cooperation with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which will receive half of the proceeds from each $150 ticket sold.
"Sugarbush is proud to be a part of an event like this," said resort president Win Smith. "Parkinson's is an insidious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Both Laura and Ron are stars in the golf world and lending their celebrity to an event like this really helps in not only raising money for the fight (against Parkinson's), but helps to elevate awareness about the disease."
The brother-sister team grew up playing golf in New England. Philo has been a three-time New England PGA Player of the Year, three-time Vermont PGA Champion, and has played in eight major championships including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. He won the PGA Professional Championship in 2006 and became Sugarbush's resident pro in 2007. Diaz attended Wake Forest University where she was the 1995 ACC champion and 1997 Female Athlete of the Year. She has won two LPGA titles, notched 50 top-ten finishes, and earned more than $4 million in her career.
Friday's events also serve as the kick-off to Sugarbush's Castlerock Open. The four-ball stroke play event (better ball of partners) gets underway Friday with practice rounds being played at the Sugarbush Golf Club. Tournament play begins Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. Diaz will offer a golf demonstration at 11:00 a.m.
For more information on the Castlerock Open and the "Driving for a Cure" fundraising event, visit the Events page at sugarbush.com.
The Tulip Quest scavenger hunt for Parkinson's Disease
Five iron tulips will be hidden in flower beds in Woodstock on Aug. 14 by a local chapter member of the Parkinson Society.
Tulips are beautiful flowers, which bring lots of joy. However, there are just too many hidden tulips out there for members of the Parkinson Society to find by themselves.
The Tulip Quest is essentially a mass scavenger hunt with 84 tulips scattered across the Maritime provinces. The society is offering a reward for their return because these are special tulips. Each one represents 100 Maritimers who live with Parkinson's Disease.
Society members will try to have one politician from each province symbolically plant the first tulip per province on Aug. 1. Tulip-finders will need to follow the directions attached to the tulip, and their names will automatically be entered in a draw to win a prize basket, courtesy of Veseys Seeds. Three prize baskets will be given out, one per province.
For more information about Tulip Quest, visit the Parkinson Society Facebook group by going to www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca and following the link posted on the main page.
The tulips have been planted in conjunction with Vogue Optical's SuperWalk for Parkinson's taking place in 16 communities across the Maritimes on Sept. 13 and 14. The SuperWalk is the society's largest fundraiser.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the River Valley Parkinson Chapter will host the SuperWalk. The Woodstock walk will begin at the Y's Men's Club on Connell Park Road. Registration starts at 11 a.m. with the walk beginning at 12 p.m. For more information or to become involved call Esther at 506-455-4529 or the regional office in Halifax at 1 800 663-2468. Further information can also be found at www.superwalk.com.
There are 8,400 people in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick living with Parkinson's Disease. For 25 years, the Parkinson Society Maritime Region has been devoted to funding research and education about Parkinson's and also providing assistance to those who suffer from the disease. Their main objective is to make it possible for researchers to find a cure.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease. When cells in the brain which normally produce a chemical called dopamine die, symptoms of Parkinson's appear. Those who suffer from Parkinson's are often inundated with severe symptoms, such as tremors (shaking); slowness in movements; muscle stiffness; and problems with balance. Other symptoms may also occur for some people, such as fatigue, difficulties with speech and writing, sleep disorders, depression and cognitive changes.
Donations are welcome and can be made by calling the Parkinson Society at 1-800-663-2468.
Tulips are beautiful flowers, which bring lots of joy. However, there are just too many hidden tulips out there for members of the Parkinson Society to find by themselves.
The Tulip Quest is essentially a mass scavenger hunt with 84 tulips scattered across the Maritime provinces. The society is offering a reward for their return because these are special tulips. Each one represents 100 Maritimers who live with Parkinson's Disease.
Society members will try to have one politician from each province symbolically plant the first tulip per province on Aug. 1. Tulip-finders will need to follow the directions attached to the tulip, and their names will automatically be entered in a draw to win a prize basket, courtesy of Veseys Seeds. Three prize baskets will be given out, one per province.
For more information about Tulip Quest, visit the Parkinson Society Facebook group by going to www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca and following the link posted on the main page.
The tulips have been planted in conjunction with Vogue Optical's SuperWalk for Parkinson's taking place in 16 communities across the Maritimes on Sept. 13 and 14. The SuperWalk is the society's largest fundraiser.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the River Valley Parkinson Chapter will host the SuperWalk. The Woodstock walk will begin at the Y's Men's Club on Connell Park Road. Registration starts at 11 a.m. with the walk beginning at 12 p.m. For more information or to become involved call Esther at 506-455-4529 or the regional office in Halifax at 1 800 663-2468. Further information can also be found at www.superwalk.com.
There are 8,400 people in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick living with Parkinson's Disease. For 25 years, the Parkinson Society Maritime Region has been devoted to funding research and education about Parkinson's and also providing assistance to those who suffer from the disease. Their main objective is to make it possible for researchers to find a cure.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease. When cells in the brain which normally produce a chemical called dopamine die, symptoms of Parkinson's appear. Those who suffer from Parkinson's are often inundated with severe symptoms, such as tremors (shaking); slowness in movements; muscle stiffness; and problems with balance. Other symptoms may also occur for some people, such as fatigue, difficulties with speech and writing, sleep disorders, depression and cognitive changes.
Donations are welcome and can be made by calling the Parkinson Society at 1-800-663-2468.
Chris completes desert challenge
1:15pm Wednesday 6th August 2008
By Charley Morgan »
A BROMHAM man has completed a gruelling 140-mile race through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to raise fund for the Parkinson's Disease Society.
Chris Todd, 31, managed to complete the race, which involved running about a marathon distance daily for six days, in just 28 hours and 46 minutes.
He has so far raised £4,000 for the Parkinson's Disease Society, but is still collecting money to help him reach his £5,000 target.
Mr Todd, a flight test engineer, said: "The race held a few surprises for me. I went there expecting to discover something about myself but in fact I discovered more about other people.
"There were some competitors who required far more determination and conviction to get through the days than the front runners - John Molly completed it on a prosthetic limb which took him 66 hrs. Truly inspiring.
"Sadly horrific blisters all round did not surprise anybody. Two brothers were withdrawn from the race on day two, as they had lost the skin from the balls and heels on their feet. "I got away with it very lightly - overall an unforgettable experience."
The race is called the Gobi Challenge and sees competitors carry all their supplies on their backs and spend nights living with nomadic goat and camel herders.
Mr Todd's step-grandfather had Parkinson's disease and the illness had a major impact on his family so he wanted to do something to help.
His training for the event saw him camp 10 miles from work so that he could run in every day carrying his backpack instead of driving from Bromham as usual.
He paid to take part in the event himself so every penny of sponsorship money he raised will be going to the charity itself. To sponsor Mr Todd visit www.justgiving.com/chris_todd_in_the_gobi.
By Charley Morgan »
A BROMHAM man has completed a gruelling 140-mile race through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to raise fund for the Parkinson's Disease Society.
Chris Todd, 31, managed to complete the race, which involved running about a marathon distance daily for six days, in just 28 hours and 46 minutes.
He has so far raised £4,000 for the Parkinson's Disease Society, but is still collecting money to help him reach his £5,000 target.
Mr Todd, a flight test engineer, said: "The race held a few surprises for me. I went there expecting to discover something about myself but in fact I discovered more about other people.
"There were some competitors who required far more determination and conviction to get through the days than the front runners - John Molly completed it on a prosthetic limb which took him 66 hrs. Truly inspiring.
"Sadly horrific blisters all round did not surprise anybody. Two brothers were withdrawn from the race on day two, as they had lost the skin from the balls and heels on their feet. "I got away with it very lightly - overall an unforgettable experience."
The race is called the Gobi Challenge and sees competitors carry all their supplies on their backs and spend nights living with nomadic goat and camel herders.
Mr Todd's step-grandfather had Parkinson's disease and the illness had a major impact on his family so he wanted to do something to help.
His training for the event saw him camp 10 miles from work so that he could run in every day carrying his backpack instead of driving from Bromham as usual.
He paid to take part in the event himself so every penny of sponsorship money he raised will be going to the charity itself. To sponsor Mr Todd visit www.justgiving.com/chris_todd_in_the_gobi.
SuperWalk for Parkinson's in Miramichi
At Sunday's first annual SuperWalk for Parkinson's in Miramichi, every one of approximately 70 walkers gathered at the Douglastown Community Centre had someone they were walking for.
Marguerite Finnigan laughs as she is surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her husband passed away from Parkinson's at the age of 72, and eight of her children, their significant others and grandchildren were walking in his memory that day.
Marguerite Finnigan, for one, was walking in memory of her husband, Jean, who passed away from the disease at the age of 72. Surrounding her were eight of her children, their significant others and several of her grandchildren.
"It's certainly a good cause," said one son, Pat Finnigan, from the Rogersville area. "We know all about Parkinson's, because my dad had the disease. It's a terrible disease. Anything that can be done to find a cure or how to better cope with it, our whole family is behind that for sure."
Only one of his siblings was unable to attend. It was not the first time the family had walked for Parkinson's; Finnigan said they had also made quite a large impression in Fredericton last year, and were pleased to be able to walk in their home region this year. He added they had raised around $1,100 altogether so far, with still one more fundraising barbecue planned.
His mother, Marguerite, was pleased so many had turned out for the Parkinson's walk.
"We all know about it," she said. "We all went through that when my husband was sick. It's very good to see them all here today."
Although the remnants of Hurricane Hanna showered the Miramichi on-and-off Sunday, the Finnigans and many other participants still braved the drizzle to march along the King George Highway, banner flying, before going back inside.
The Greater Miramichi chapter of the Parkinson Society Maritime Region was established just this year. Its president, Judy Morrison, stressed its goal was to serve the whole of the Miramichi region.
"Simply because there's so many outlying areas of the region where people have Parkinson's, and would like to attend our support groups," she explained.
Morrison said she was happy at the turnout, despite the poor weather, adding the event was expected to raise $5,000, which she said was "excellent for the first walk."
More than 8,000 Atlantic Canadians suffer from Parkinson's disease. Common symptoms include tremors, slowness or stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity. Some sufferers may also show signs of fatigue, soft speech, writing problems, stooped posture, constipation and/or sleep disturbance.
There is currently no cure, but sufferers can live successfully with the disease for several years.
"We're trying to draw awareness to the Parkinson's disease," Morrison said of the walk. "However, exercise is the best thing for Parkinson's, along with your medication, of course."
Several dignitaries were on hand for the event, including MP Charles Hubbard, Miramichi MLAs Bill Fraser and John Foran, Miss New Brunswick and Mayor Gerry Cormier, among others.
"I think it's wonderful to raise awareness here for the Parkinson's cause," Cormier said. "I'm pleased with the turnout today, considering the weather."
Marguerite Finnigan laughs as she is surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her husband passed away from Parkinson's at the age of 72, and eight of her children, their significant others and grandchildren were walking in his memory that day.
Marguerite Finnigan, for one, was walking in memory of her husband, Jean, who passed away from the disease at the age of 72. Surrounding her were eight of her children, their significant others and several of her grandchildren.
"It's certainly a good cause," said one son, Pat Finnigan, from the Rogersville area. "We know all about Parkinson's, because my dad had the disease. It's a terrible disease. Anything that can be done to find a cure or how to better cope with it, our whole family is behind that for sure."
Only one of his siblings was unable to attend. It was not the first time the family had walked for Parkinson's; Finnigan said they had also made quite a large impression in Fredericton last year, and were pleased to be able to walk in their home region this year. He added they had raised around $1,100 altogether so far, with still one more fundraising barbecue planned.
His mother, Marguerite, was pleased so many had turned out for the Parkinson's walk.
"We all know about it," she said. "We all went through that when my husband was sick. It's very good to see them all here today."
Although the remnants of Hurricane Hanna showered the Miramichi on-and-off Sunday, the Finnigans and many other participants still braved the drizzle to march along the King George Highway, banner flying, before going back inside.
The Greater Miramichi chapter of the Parkinson Society Maritime Region was established just this year. Its president, Judy Morrison, stressed its goal was to serve the whole of the Miramichi region.
"Simply because there's so many outlying areas of the region where people have Parkinson's, and would like to attend our support groups," she explained.
Morrison said she was happy at the turnout, despite the poor weather, adding the event was expected to raise $5,000, which she said was "excellent for the first walk."
More than 8,000 Atlantic Canadians suffer from Parkinson's disease. Common symptoms include tremors, slowness or stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity. Some sufferers may also show signs of fatigue, soft speech, writing problems, stooped posture, constipation and/or sleep disturbance.
There is currently no cure, but sufferers can live successfully with the disease for several years.
"We're trying to draw awareness to the Parkinson's disease," Morrison said of the walk. "However, exercise is the best thing for Parkinson's, along with your medication, of course."
Several dignitaries were on hand for the event, including MP Charles Hubbard, Miramichi MLAs Bill Fraser and John Foran, Miss New Brunswick and Mayor Gerry Cormier, among others.
"I think it's wonderful to raise awareness here for the Parkinson's cause," Cormier said. "I'm pleased with the turnout today, considering the weather."
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