Run-the-Caribbean 4 Parkinson's, version 2.0

       When I returned home from the Caribbean last month, my hope was to make a quick return to continue my travels, running and efforts to raise Parkinson’s Awareness throughout the region. Although I could not coordinate to resume my itinerary where I left off, I am happy to say that I now have a plan to return in June.

        While I was only in the Caribbean for a week in March, I was very fortunate to make some special contacts in Barbados and witness what felt like the birth of Parkinson’s Awareness in the country with the Barbados Parkinson’s Awareness Walk and the establishment of a Parkinson’s support group. This experience gave me a new perspective on the needs of those affected by Parkinson’s in the Caribbean and an inner circle of people to help guide my endeavor to do a small part to advance their cause.

     

Promoting The Global Parkinson's Pledge

“We, the undersigned members of the global Parkinson’s community”

          This is the introductory line of the Global Parkinson's Pledge.  My hope is that no matter what your connection to Parkinson's Disease - you will take a minute to join "the global Parkinson's community" and add your name to the list of those who have signed the Global Parkinson's Pledge.

          In 1997, the first meeting of the World Health Organization Working Group on Parkinson’s Disease was held in Geneva, Switzerland.  The summary report included five recommendations that you can read here:     Parkinson's Disease and Public Health

          The working group also produced the Global Declaration on Parkinson’s Disease, which was signed by representatives of the WHO’s six regions.  The actions of the working group and the documents they produced became the basis for the Global Parkinson's Pledge, which "was launched at the second World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland on September 28, 2010." The Pledge continues to be promoted by the World Parkinson Coalition and I first became aware of the Pledge at the World Parkinson Congress in Montreal in 2013.

 “We therefore call upon governments, health agencies of the United Nations system, and patient-oriented non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the world to:"