Moving Day - The Parkinson Foundation in Las Vegas

The Parkinson’s Foundation (TPF) celebrated their first Moving Day campaign in Las Vegas last Saturday at Wayne Bunker Park. It was a perfect fall day and the turnout was fantastic.

Colleen Fischer, National Coordinator of Signature Events for TPF, reached out to me in the summer with this idea and a bit of angst in terms of whether or not the Las Vegas PD community was going to turn out for this type of event.

Currently, Las Vegas does not have a local chapter of any of the “big” PD groups like TPF or American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). The APDA closed its chapter here in 2013, though echoes of its organization still exist online.

When I told Colleen about our new collaborative, Parkinson’s Place Las Vegas, formed out of the need to better serve those affected by PD in Las Vegas, from various levels, she was thrilled. We immediately got her extended access to the Cleveland Clinic, which just received its Center of Excellence award from TPF, as well as UNLV’s PD research team, Rock Steady Green Valley, Motorvation and nationally recognized PD advocate, Christian Banda.

The event was filled with activity, collaboration, and laughter. Colleen was thrilled with the turnout, generosity and energy of the Las Vegas PD community. Thank you, to everyone who participated.

As happy as we all are, we know we’re just getting started. We need you and look forward to getting to know you and helping serve you in anyway we can. We’re better together.

We hope to see you at our launch party on Saturday, Nov. 3rd from 4-7p at PKWY Tavern, 9820 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89147.

— written by Robert Cochrane