Proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon will go toward research for finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Printer Friendly Format

Put on your walking shoes and get ready to participate in the annual Parkinson Walk-A-Thon. Diane Johnson, R.N., movement disorder clinic nurse and the Health Science Center’s information and referral coordinator for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA), invites faculty, staff, students and friends to participate in the event. It will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 6, at Eisenhower Park.

The APDA provides strong support for research initiatives at the Health Science Center. It focuses its energies on research, patient support, education and raising public awareness of the disease

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells in a part of the brain die or become impaired. Normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows smooth, coordinated function of the body's muscles and movement. When approximately 80 percent of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.

Registration for the walk is $25 and participants receive a t-shirt. All proceeds go toward research to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

For more information, contact Dr. Johnson (210) 567-6688.