5 Ways to Celebrate Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Every April, thousands of people with Parkinson’s come together to bring a little bit of attention to their plight. Parkinson’s Awareness Month provides an opportunity for those who are impacted by the disease to speak up, to get a little bit of attention, and maybe even to boost external interest in the Parkinson’s experience.

But it isn’t always clear how to celebrate Parkinson’s Awareness Month. The following opportunities may provide additional insight, and community during the month of April and beyond!

Join a Parkinson’s support group

Finding a sense of community can be an incredibly beneficial way to navigate Parkinson’s disease as both a patient and a caregiver.

Luckily, there are a number of different organizations that offer support groups both in person and online. And, if you’re looking to join a specific kind of support group, you can always use online resources like Facebook to create your own!

Engage with others online

You don’t necessarily have to go to a meeting every week in order to reap the benefits of a Parkinson’s community. There are a number of different forums and conversation boards that can easily be accessed in order to discuss concerns, and talk about your experience.

Some forums allow you to schedule posts to ask specific questions that haven’t been addressed. Forums are also a great way to read about other people’s experience to see what types of things Parkinson’s patients are experiencing.

Start a fundraiser

One of the big obstacles that stands in the way of Parkinson’s research is funding. Without money, it’s extremely difficult for scientists to make significant headway in the Parkinson’s field.

If you’re someone with a knack for organization, April could be a great month for fundraising for Parkinson’s.

Attend the Parkinson’s Unity Walk

Every year, a Parkinson’s Unity Walk takes place in Central Park (this year it’s going to be held on April 23rd). This walk can connect those who are impacted by Parkinson’s. But it’s also provides a terrific way to fundraise.

In fact, 100 percent of donations that occur at this event are used to support Parkinson’s disease research. Over the past several decades, the Parkinson’s Unity Walk has raised over 28 million dollars for Parkinson’s.

Learn about the condition

If you tend to be a bit more introverted, getting out for Parkinson’s walks and in-person meetings can be a little bit of a challenge. But you don’t necessarily have to get out of your comfort zone to educate and inform yourself about Parkinson’s disease.

Instead, you might use the month of April to focus your reading and podcast listening on Parkinson’s disease. Doing so might allow you to explore current research, the way the disease has impacted others, and how to manage your own difficulties.

Some popular Parkinson’s books include titles like: No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned by Michael J. Fox, and Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies by Michele Tagliati.

Popular podcasts include titles like: Young-Onset Parkinson’s 101, and Medical Marijuana: Going Free for PD.