Registration is now open for our 2012 Parkinson’s walk. The walk is now called Moving Day, and you can register at npfMovingDay.org

Moving Day Means More

Minnesota has had a fantastic walk for more than 20 years. And every year participants tell us that they want more. More visibility for Parkinson’s. More attendees. More advertising. More sponsors. We asked the National Parkinson Foundation for help to meet these requests and they’ve agreed. In fact, NPF is helping chapters across the country do more. Events like Moving Day Twin Cities are happening throughout the country.

Moving Day is a fundraising walk to create greater awareness of the importance of movement for not only people with PD, but all of us. It’s a community event.  A unique part of Moving Day is the Movement Pavilion where participants who do not care to walk may try chair-based exercises, yoga, dance and other activities.

Funds raised during Moving Day Twin Cities continue to support local services for people touched by PD and will also help support NPF’s research to improve care and treatments.

While some parts of our Walk will change, much will be the same, including the leadership – and humor – of Bert and Gayle Blyleven. Get ready for another fun-filled family day. And as we learned last year … nothing will stop us! Rain, sleet, cold. It’s not at match for PD.

Saturday, May 12, 2012, Hilde Performance Center Park, Plymouth

9 a.m. Registration

10 a.m. Welcome and Opening Comments, then MOVE!

11:30 a.m. Return to the band shell for prizes and closing comments

Bert and Gayle Blyleven: Leaders, Emcees, Entertainers and more

Bert and Gayle Blyleven are back from their National Baseball Hall of Fame adventure and again ready to lead our Parkinson’s event. The Blyleven’s are NPFM’s honorary co-chairs and have been leaders in our Parkinson’s community for years. Bert’s father, Joe, lived with PD for many years and Bert and Gayle donate part of the proceeds to NPFM from the sale of Circle Me Bert items.

Register Now: here,  Follow the instructions to register or make a donation. Online registration allows you to easily share your interest in Parkinson’s with others who may want to join or team or contribute to your efforts. Try it.

In person registration will also be accepted at the park on walk day. Mail checks to National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota (NPFM) 6601 Lyndale Ave., S., Suite 310, Minneapolis MN 55423. Please note the team name and walker who should receive credit for your donation.

Win Prizes

While every attendee will receive a gift for being at the Walk May 12, we are joining other nonprofits in asking participants to raise at least $100 to earn a t-shirt. Don’t worry. We will be posting ideas to help you reach that goal.

Additional incentive prizes go to:

• All participants who raise $500 and up have a choice of an added prize: a Moving Day hooded sweatshirt or a Moving Day gym bag.
• The team raising the most money (as of May 31)
• The individual raising the most money (as of May 31)
• Team with the most participants at Moving Day
• Oldest participant at Moving Day
• Youngest participant at Moving Day
• Fabulous, creative, interesting sign designer

2012 Location

Hilde Performance Center Park, 3500 Plymouth Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55447

Highway 55, west of Struthers’s Parkinson’s Center and 494.

On Plymouth Blvd., between Highway 55 and Rockford Road (Cnty Rd. 9)

Parking is available onsite at City Hall, Lifetime Fitness and across the street. Watch for signs. Please leave the closest parking for people with limited mobility.

Parkinson’s Disease and Driving
Hosted by the NPF Care Consortium
Presented by Chris Wilson, OT, Plummer Movement Disorders Center

LIVE webinar on driving with Parkinson’s disease.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 from 2 to 3 p.m., Central 
To view the webcast, click on the link below as early as 1:45 p.m.
Webcast: http://epro.netbriefings.com/?meeting=2651746
Dial: 1-888-244-4984   Conference ID:  105509

The NPF Care Consortium hosts webinars on different topics every other month as part of our Care Centers network. Your input and participation in these webinars is most welcome. What would you like to see? Post below!

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 Tune in to this live educational webcast for a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the FDA, the role it plays in therapy development, and possible areas for needed change and improvement.  Don’t miss your chance to hear from experts from the FDA, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), as well as PAN Minnesota State Director Jackie Hunt Christensen. (Yep, our Jackie.)

Below are links that you may find useful as you watch the webcast:

FDA Office of Special Health Issues

Fox Trial Finder
PDTrials.org
ClinicalTrials.gov

 This program is made possible by a conference support grant awarded from and administered by the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) of the U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Award # W23RYX1067N603

]]> http://parkinsonmn.org/2011/12/fdas-impact-on-pd-community/feed/ 0 http://parkinsonmn.org/2011/12/pd-dance-studio-to-start-in-duluth/ http://parkinsonmn.org/2011/12/pd-dance-studio-to-start-in-duluth/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:23:00 +0000 admin http://parkinsonmn.org/?p=412 The research is clear: Moving helps people with Parkinson’s stay strong. One of the most successful movement initiatives in the country is Dance For PD® started in Brooklyn, N.Y., and now this type of event is coming to Duluth.

The Duluth class is modeled after the Mark Morris Dance Groupʼs Dance for PD® which has been featured at Parkinson’s conferences, on PBS and elsewhere. All classes begin with participants in chairs and all dances can be done while seated.

People with Parkinson’s, their caregivers, family members and friends are invted to enjoy moving to music in a safe, welcoming weekly class. Organizers say you will stretch, warm up and spark your creativity and grace. (Sounds like a great way to begin the new year!)

Here are the details:

Dance Studio

1 to 2:15 p.m., Fridays, starting Jan. 6,  2012

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 835 W. College St., Duluth

Ther is underground parking with direct access

Suggested donation of $3 per person or $5 per group of family, friends, caregivers

Questions may be directed to Jessica Roeder at 727-8286 or jaroeder2(at)gmail(dot)com

Please let us know how it goes. Maybe this will spark more dance programs across the state!

Aaron Cook-Grandson’s grandfather has Parkinson’s disease. And the 8th grader is doing something to help his grandfather Paul Olson, Paul’s wife Lois, and others touched by Parkinson’s.

You’re invited to his Concert of Thanksgiving

4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20

Nova Classical Academy

426 Osceola Avenue South

St. Paul, MN 55102

Aaron will be joined by other talented musicians for an afternoon of music and dance. While the event is free, donations to the National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota are encouraged.

Aaron’s school, Nova Classical Academy upper campus in St. Paul, has generously donated space for the event. It is a project that Aaron created to provide a fun and free event for the community, and also to serve as a fundraising effort for the NPFM. His Mom says Aaron is an amazing young man who loves his family very much. You may recognize his grandparents from Parkinson’s Day at the Ballpark. Aaron’s grandparents Paul and Lois raised the Twins Territory flag.

You can find out more on the event’s Facebook page, A Concert of Thanksgiving.

Refreshments will be served post-concert.

If you can’t make it to the concert, you may recognize Aaron’s efforts with a donation to NPFM.

Our new executive director will provide overall leadership and management to NPFM, incluidng helping us create and implement an annual development plan, cultivate and retain donors, serve as the primary contact for the media and more.

You can view all the requirements and more here.

Please share this opportunity with candidates who may be interested.

You care invited to choose one of the following sessions:

Living with Advancing PD

Monday, Sept. 26, 2011

Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 N. Berens Road NW, Prior Lake, Minn.

Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. with the presentation from 4 to 6 p.m.

If you would like to attend Living with Advancing PD, register for Program A.

Newly Diagnosed

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Edina Community Center, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina, Minn.

Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. followed by the program from 4 to 6 p.m.

To attend Newly Diagnosed, register for Program B.

Registration

Space is limited for both sessions, so we recommend you register early by calling 651-241-8600. The deadline for registration is Sept. 20. Remember, choose either Program A (Living with Advancing PD) or Program B (Newly Diagnosed.) Refreshments will be served.

Sponsors

In addition to NPFM, sponsors of this event are TEVA Neuroscience, Medtronic, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology and American Parkinson Disease Association.

Check it out and let us know what you think. Share it with your providers, too. It features all kinds of information about Parkinson’s disease including medications, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment considerations. It also includes advice for clinicians on what do think about before the visit.

NPF says:

“The National Parkinson Foundation is dedicated to providing clinicians with tools to improve the way they treat Parkinson’s, and there is no better way to do this than a point-of-care mobile app,” said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF’s President and CEO. “The cost of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment in Parkinson’s, in human suffering alone, is incalculable. We created the Parkinson’s Toolkit to provide a quick and easy reference tool for clinicians to help bridge the knowledge gap where they need it—in the examining room.”

It highlights issues that are often overlooked, such as constipation, sleep, and the need for annual screening for melanoma; provides criteria for determining whether or not a patient requires a consultation with a specialist, as well as useful Parkinson’s reference tools and patient resources.

The Parkinson’s Toolkit is available for download at toolkit.parkinson.org and is also available in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market. On the website, clinicians can also opt in to receive email updates from NPF on a regular basis.

The Parkinson’s Toolkit was developed with support from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen and UCB.

As you know Bert and Gayle Blyleven are committed to supporting people touched by Parkinson’s. Now is our chance to support Blylevens and have some fun. Saturday, July 16, 2011, is Bert Blyleven Day at Target Field, and we are joining in the fun as Minnesota Twins send them off to Cooperstown for Bert’s National Baseball Hall of Fame induction. The game is sold out except for single seats and standing room only tickets, but Parkinson’s has a special block of seats.
Parkinson’s tickets are in the outfield, section 329 in rows 1 to 16.  There are steps (with a railing) to reach this section in the outfield. In addition, we have a limited number of wheelchair accessible seats in section 234. Please let us know your accessibility needs when you purchase your tickets. Tickets are $24 each and will be mailed to you. Order tickets here. Large groups are welcomed, so tell all your friends and family!

Pregame fun includes the retirement of Bert’s jersey, #28. Postgame, 20,000 fans will receive a Bert Byleven baseball. In addition, we have in-game give aways including items autographed by Bert. If you need more than six tickets contact Parkinson’s Day at the Ballpark coordinator Eileen Smith at ballpark[at]parkinsonmn.org.

Blylevens’ connection to Parkinson’s is through Bert’s father, Joe, who lived with PD for many years. The Blylevens are committed to raising funds to support those living with Parkinson’s disease, whether it’s providing auction items, eating nightcrawlers or joining us at the annual walk, Bert and Gayle are always helping out. Right now, Blylevens are supporting Parkinson’s by donating part of the proceeds from the sale of Circle Me Bert items and promoting Bert’s Burger at Wendy’s. The visibility for Parkinson’s is significant. 

Bert and Gayle’s work on behalf of Minnesotan’s with PD started in 2004 when NPFM joined Bert and Gayle for Bert’s Birthday Party at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, with NPFM member Bill Maser throwing out the first pitch. Bert and Gayle have lead the Annual Walk for Parkinson’s Disease since 2004.

See you at the ballpark!

This year’s creation is two fresh beef patties, Bert’s special signature sauce, two slices of cheese, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and pickle.

From Wendy’s website: “Wendy’s FourCrown is proud to continue its partnership with Bert Blyleven and the Minnesota Twins by offering our second annual Bert’s Burger.  Try Bert’s very own creation at any of Wendy’s FourCrown restaurants - a portion of all proceeds from the sale of the Bert’s Burger will be donated to Bert’s charity of choice, the National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota.  In 2010, more than $10,000 was donated from the sales of the first Bert’s Burger.”