April is Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month! Get involved with numerous projects going on all over the world! There is something to choose for everyone! Whatever your level of energy or commitment, there is a cause or activity that should fulfill your desire to get involved a little or more!
Earlier this month, I was invited to Capitol Hill to view a sample of the soon-to-be released documentary from iTVS and PBS about Parkinson’s disease called Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s. Scheduled to be on at 10 pm ET on April 8th, check your local PBS station for Independent Lens, Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s. Three different people with Parkinson’s and their families are followed to see a period of how they are living with this difficult illness. Discussion groups and viewing parties are encouraged to discuss the film and the issues brought up in the film – check with local organizations in your area, there may be a viewing party near you!
PDAvengers.com is a great place to start your advocacy! Sign up today to become a PD Avenger. 
PD Avengers is currently hosting a SLEEP survey for those living with Parkinson’s and carepartners. You can learn about the survey and take the survey here. Let your voice be heard!
Try waking up your voice at 11AM EST for live voice exercises with Parkinson Voice CEO and founder, Samantha Elandary, every weekday! If you can’t make it to the live Zoom, they are recorded. Learn more at ParkinsonVoiceProject.org.
April 11th is Dr. James Parkinson’s birthday, which is World Parkinson’s Day.
Here’s just a few of the dozens of events happening around the World:
- April 11-13 2024 – Insight Into Parkinson’s (online) Conference has presenters from around the world speaking on a variety of topics in the Parkinson’s community. Registration is free but premium ticket for extended online access.
- April 11 – Parkinson’s Around the World 24 LIVE Stream – Starts Noon in New Zealand (which will be April 10 @ 8pm for EDT). You can see the live stream via PD Avengers YouTube page – https://www.youtube.com/pdavengers
- Sit to Stand Challenge 2024 – Register now to complete as many sit to stands you can do in 24 hours! This year’s goal – 2 million around the world!
- Dopamine Dance – From April 3rd until April 11, bust a move, record your moves and post via social media with tag #DopamineDance to raise awareness!
- Spark the Night – On April 11th, the Empire State Building and over 300 landmarks around the World will be lit blue for World Parkinson’s Day. Visit PDAvengers.com for a complete listing of landmarks!!
Be on the lookout for numerous Parkinson’s events and announcements throughout the whole month of April, for all that is happening. Small outreach can have BIG impacts in our community. For example: speaking to your neighbors, friends, or colleagues about Parkinson’s is a great way to raise awareness. Do you have any advocacy or outreach you are planning to do this month? Let us know in the comments below.
