What To Do, What To Do

AAA Benefits
September 24, 2015
Insta-Like
March 1, 2016
AAA Benefits
September 24, 2015
Insta-Like
March 1, 2016

What To Do, What To Do

                                          TO DO:

logo_√__ Register for the World Parkinson Coalition’s (WPC) 2016 Congress in Portland, Oregon.

_√__ Get Sir Thomas a spiffy new vest for the occasion.

____ Blog about the Parky for the WPC.

Check. Check. Hmmmm. When I first heard about Parky, my really? radar triggparky4ered.

But, I’m a blogger for the WPC, I need to hone in on the really! qualities of this 10-inch, floppy plush toy, not the fact that it looks like the dog’s favorite chewie.

A stuffed raccoon (really?), Parky is the WPC’s mascot for their upcoming Congress, the Parkinson’s conference of conferences. The organizers invite everyone affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD) from everywhere around the world to a summit of shared stories, current findings, breaking news, latest treatments, song and dance and so much more.

More than 3,500 researchers, physicians, nurses, therapists, movement specialists, the newly diagnosed, people who have lived with the disease for many years, caregivers, family ­­­­and friends convened in Montreal in 2013. The 2016 gathering is in September in Portland, Oregon. Attendees can choose from scores of scientific presentations, hands-on workshops, sessions on alternative approaches, group discussions, social gatherings.

So, really? Why a raccoon to represent all things PD? Tulips, the international symbol of the hope for a cure, seem much more elegant.

Then again, at the end of a bad day with the challenges of living with PD, even the most graceful flower flops and gets dark rings around its eyes.

A children’s story about a raccoon names the rings on its tail Cheerfulness, Faith and Persistence. Well, it certainly takes all three when PD is around.

I also read that raccoons are playful, alert and intelligent. That works.

They’re also considered to be incredible survivors, able to adapt to changing environments. Really.

Oh, parky2and they’re nocturnal.

That summarizes most people I know living with PD: fun, smart, rolling with it and up most of the night.

_√_ Blog about the Parky for the WPC. Check.  On closer look, Parky is fuzzy and squishy-soft. Anyone can buy one. They all appear to be the same, but they’re not. Each Parky experiences something different, just like each person with Parkinson’s. Parky goes on hikes, to the symphony, to conferences.

My Parky is a yoga fan. Oh, and has a service dog.  Really!

parky1  See more here about Parky’s story.

Click here for more about the 2016 WPC Congress in Portland.

1 Comment

  1. Barbara Jolliffe says:

    And you can drive there this year!! Woohooo!!

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