Raise Awareness

From Passion to Action: 4 Volunteers Making a Difference

Every day at we are grateful for the wonderful volunteers, known as Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassadors, who help make a difference in the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

National Volunteer Week is April 17 to 23, and we want to celebrate and thank all the hard-working volunteers across the globe who spread awareness and improve their PD communities.

There are many ways to get involved and start volunteering, from Moving Day to joining our People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council. Finding the opportunity that fits your abilities and passion is key. Below are four volunteers who did just that, and who are excited to share their stories with you in the hopes that you might also find the volunteer role that works for you!

Rebecca

Rebecca LeClair on stage at Moving Day Walk

Volunteer, Brother is living with Parkinson’s 

Selfishness is normally considered a negative characteristic, but in this case, I’m proud to be a selfish volunteer for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Luckily, everything I do for the Foundation helps Greg, and vicariously helps others too! I think that’s pretty positive.

Read Rebecca’s story
 

Mike & Angela

Angela and Michael Bowman

Parkinson’s Research Advocates, Mike is Living with Parkinson’s and Angela is his care partner

Back in the day, it was uncommon for older people, especially African Americans, to seek medical attention for physical and mental needs. Now, as a Research Advocate, I can ask questions and help raise awareness for PD. I use this role to spread information about the importance of clinical research and genetic testing.

Read Mike and Angela’s story
 

Darrell

Darrell Allers headshot

Volunteer, Living with Parkinson’s

There are many volunteer roles in the Parkinson’s Foundation and my interest settled on giving presentations in the community. First, I needed to complete the Ambassador training which was very helpful and increased my PD knowledge. My motivation to pass the training quickly became my reality and I became a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador for the Georgia Chapter.

Read Darrell’s story
 

Whether you are interested in becoming a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador like Darrell, a research advocate like Mike & Angela, or speaking to people in your community like Rebecca, we want to hear from you! Get to know more of our volunteers through this special volunteer edition podcast episode.

Complete our volunteer interest form to get started. You can also chat with the volunteer engagement team to help us educate others about PD and connect them to life-saving resources.

Already a volunteer? Check out our course offerings today! 

Learn more about how you can become a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador.
 

Educational Events

Parkinsonisms

Virtual ( Zoom )
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Free
REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL
Husband and wife lookin at a tablet while on their porch

Wellness Wednesday

Parkinsonism is a term used to describe a collection of movement symptoms associated with several conditions including Parkinson’s disease. Learn about the types of Parkinsonisms and how they are diagnosed and treated.

Speaker

Jerome Lisk, MD, FAAN
Fellowship Trained in Movement Disorders 
Board Certified National Board of Physicians and Surgeons; Board Certified American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Board of Directors, Texas Health Services Authority
MD Neurology Director of Movement Disorders Denton/Flower Mound, TX.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.

PD Health @ Home is presented by the Light of Day Foundation, whose generosity has made this programming possible.

Light of Day

This is a virtual program, taking place live, using the online Zoom platform. Instructions on joining the webinar are provided after registering.

Upcoming Events

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Videos & Webinars

Expert Briefing: Research Update: Working to Halt PD

April 10, 2024

There is still a lot we don’t know about Parkinson’s disease (PD), and through research, efforts are being made to close the gaps in our knowledge and understanding.  In addition to the development of new therapies for symptom management, research also seeks to find ways to stop progression and ultimately end PD.  During this Expert Briefing, we will learn about current research that is taking various approaches to develop a treatment that may significantly slow PD’s progression.

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Presenter

Lorraine Kalia, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Associate Professor
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto
Toronto Western Research Institute
Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease 

Fundraising Events

Community Walk Circleville

9:00 am to 12:00 pm CDT
FREE
Group of people going through the finish line at a Moving Day Walk

Get out and move with your community! Every dollar raised supports the Parkinson’s Foundation mission to make life better for people affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). At Moving Day Community Walks across the country, we’re fighting Parkinson’s and celebrating movement — proven to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms — and we’re doing it together. The Moving Day Community Walk Program is a complement to the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s. These walks are family-friendly and help the Foundation make life better for people with PD.

The Community Walk program offers volunteers an opportunity to organize a walk in their own community that does not have a Moving Day event. The program leverages the personal experiences and community leadership of passionate volunteers to promote Parkinson’s awareness and raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Learn more about bringing an event to your area

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Educational Events

Tennessee Parkinson's Symposium

10:00 am to 1:30 pm EST
FREE
Tennessee Parkinson's Symposium

Check-in & Resource Fair start at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Join the Parkinson's Foundation and Erlanger for the Tennessee Parkinson's Symposium. Hear about ongoing research, current treatments, and resources available to help you live your best life with Parkinson's. 

Check-in and Resource Fair start at 9 a.m. Lunch will be served.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their families, friends, and the community.

Featured Presenters:

Ellen Valadez, MD
Erlanger Neurology 

Cherry Yu, MD
Vanderbilt Neurology

Trembling Troubadours

Movement Breaks Provided By:

Rock Steady Boxing Chattanooga

YMCA of Chattanooga

A collaboration with Erlanger and the Parkinson's Foundation Tennessee & Kentucky Chapter

erlan

Thank You to Our Program Sponsor:

Supernus Pharmaceuticals logo

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

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Fundraising Events

Flamin’ Ohs - The Parkinson’s Foundation Fundraiser

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm CDT

Twin Cities rock legends Flamin’ Oh's return to The Hook & Ladder Theater for an outdoor evening of rockin’ fun to support the Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota and Dakotas Chapter fundraiser, Under The Canopy!

The Oh's soared to the upper echelon of Minnesota bands with their lively shows and exciting brand of straightforward rock & roll. They became one of the earliest bands to make music videos. Chuck Statler(music video pioneer who directed videos for DEVO, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and El Vez) directed two videos for the band. The videos aired on a new television network dedicated to music, MTV.

“Hard edged Stones-like rock’n’roll. East Coast street anthems coupled with Midwestern optimism and enthusiasm.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Tickets to the event and donations made at the event are tax deductible. The Parkinson's Foundation utilizes money raised through events like this to fund research to find a cure for the disease, as well as to provide ongoing support to the Parkinson's community.

Fundraising Events

Parkinson's Awareness Day Twins vs. Rays at Target Field

12:10 pm to 4:30 pm CDT

Join us for the 4th Parkinson's Awareness Day at Target Field. Cheer on the Minnesota Twins as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday June 20th at 12:10PM. Discounted tickets are available through the link above. 

A portion of each ticket purchased through this special offer will go back to your choice of: American Parkinson's Disease Association Minnesota Chapter
Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Parkinson's Foundation of Minnesota and Dakotas Chapter
Struthers Parkinson's Center
University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research or Veterans Affairs.

Parkinson's Awareness Day ticket purchasers are also be invited to take part in a pregame parade around the warning track of the field (~1/5 of a mile around) about an hour before the start of the game (more details will be sent out closer to the game).

Tickets will be delivered electronically through the MLB Ballpark app.

Podcasts

Episode 168: Celebrating Our Parkinson’s Foundation Volunteers

This month, we are honoring and celebrating our Parkinson’s Foundation volunteers. Every volunteer helps make a difference in the everyday lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease, whether it’s by helping organize a local community walk, serving as a research advocate providing feedback and collaborating with scientists on research studies, or speaking at a panel for a community education program. There are many opportunities to get involved with the Foundation. 

In this episode, we highlight two volunteers, Tonia Smith, a public service advocate, member of the Parkinson’s Foundation People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council, and caregiver to her mother living with Parkinson’s disease, and Steve Sain, a retired engineer and a person living with Parkinson’s. They share their stories about how they became involved with the Parkinson’s Foundation. 

Released: April 2, 2024

Videos & Webinars

Expert Briefing: Understanding Pain in Parkinson's

March 13, 2024

If you live with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and experience pain, you are not alone.  Pain is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease, that is often under-recognized.  Learn about the types of pain in Parkinson’s, its impact on the individual, and the many ways to manage pain in PD. 

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Presenter

Apurva Zawar, PT, DPT, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist
Volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Francisco
Founder of Beyond Rehab (digital neuro rehab and wellness clinic)

Educational Events

Safe Movement in the Hospital

Virtual ( Zoom )
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Free
REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL
Husband and wife lookin at a tablet while on their porch

Wellness Wednesday

Staying active in the hospital is key to a faster recovery. Regular movement has many benefits, including reducing muscle loss, helping with sleep, improving focus and managing constipation. For people with PD in the hospital, regular movement is important for managing symptoms, preventing falls and minimizing complications.

Speakers

Karen Bitzer, OTR/L, MBA
Director
Care Transitions and IP Rehab- Academic

Julia Skarbinski, MBA, BSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
UH Portage/South Market

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.

This is a virtual program, taking place live, using the online Zoom platform. Instructions on joining the webinar are provided after registering.

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