Every six minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease – nearly 90,000 new cases each year – and a projected 1.2 million people will be living with the condition by 2030.

The purpose of World Parkinson’s Day and Parkinson’s Awareness Month is to make sure more people know about Parkinson’s and support care for current patients as well as research that will one day lead to a cure. Every day we’re inspired by the resiliency of patients of all ages living with Parkinson’s.

We’ll be participating in the Parkinson’s Association’s MoveIt! walk on April 22 at Symphony Park – please join us there or register for a walk closer to you.

We’ll also be sharing stories of patients and educational information over social media and on our website, and there may be a red tulip or two blooming at 411 Billingsley Road!

Why April?
James Parkinson was the London physician who first described “the Shaking Palsy” in 1817. In 1997, The World Health Organization declared his birthday, April 11, to be World Parkinson’s Day and the entire month is Awareness Month.

Why Tulips?
In 1980 a Dutch horticulturalist with Parkinson’s disease developed a red and white tulip to honor Dr. Parkinson. At the 9^th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in 2005, his tulip was launched as the official symbol of the condition.