The 2020 Parkinson's Foundation Moving Day is Saturday, May 9.
Since 2011, The Parkinson’s Foundation’s annual Moving Day events have raised more than $27 million for Parkinson’s research. This year’s event will have the same big fundraising goals — and a very different look.
From Albuquerque to Winston Salem, registrants have been fundraising for months for the foundation’s first Virtual Moving Day event, which will be held concurrently at 1 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, May 9. There are 27 local Virtual Moving Day events dotted across the country, in communities like Omaha, Neb.; Fresno, Calif.; Lexington, Ky.; and Baton Rouge. Participants without a local listing are encouraged to sign up for a Moving Day USA event.
“When the threat of COVID-19 emerged, the Parkinson’s Foundation staff quickly pivoted our efforts to make our educational programs and fundraisers accessible while the country is practicing social distancing,” said John L. Lehr, President and CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “We’ve gone the extra mile to ensure that the Parkinson’s community can remain connected informed and active while at home, which is critical to this at-risk population. I’m proud of our organization for showing initiative and leadership, as well as unwavering support for the Parkinson’s community.”
Saturday’s virtual walk will feature exercise demos, messages from the Foundation’s staff and partners, and personal stories – including one from Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen, who lost his father to Parkinson’s disease last year.
“The Parkinson’s Foundation provided important resources for my family while my father was living with Parkinson’s disease. I’m grateful for this support and the ongoing support they provide to the Parkinson’s community,” Sorensen said. “I’m honored to have a role in this year’s virtual Moving Day Walk to raise awareness of and funds for the disease. After all, Parkinson’s disease doesn’t stop, even in a pandemic!”
The virtual walk is part of a broader strategy shift by the foundation to continue to bring information to its community in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. PD Health @ Home includes webinars with experts, Facebook Live Q&A’s, local chapter panels, guest lectures via Zoom, and a PD-tailored online fitness program led by a physical therapist.
“As someone living with Parkinson’s disease, I know the importance of communications and providing online resources while the more at-risk PD community is socially distancing at home,” said Denise Coley, a member of the Parkinson’s Foundation People with Parkinson’s Advisory Committee. “It is comforting to know that the Parkinson’s Foundation is here to answer our questions about how COVID-19 can affect people with PD. The Foundation has also been a critical source of information about exercise, medications, support groups, research and telemedicine during this pandemic.”
Additionally, the Parkinson’s Foundation is hosting its annual Care Partner Summit, or Cumbre Para Cuidadores, a free program for care partners of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), online Saturday, May 16, 2020 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. The Care Partner Summit program will include a series of panels covering key care partner topics including cognitive changes, mental health, self-care, practical planning and more. Expert panelists will also answer questions submitted by summit participants.
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States.
