Parkinson’s Awareness Month will be Celebrated Amid 4,000 Blooming Tulips in Rockland
and New Music Video
ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (April 17, 2023) – Parkinsons Wellness Project (PWP) will celebrate Parkinson’s Awareness Month with 4,000 blooming tulips—the international symbol for Parkinson’s Disease — in the Garden of Hope at Clover Stadium in Pomona on April 20th at 1 PM. The bulbs, planted by volunteers in the fall of 2022 at the entrance to the stadium, were sponsored by Supernus Pharmaceuticals. Now, six months later, the tulips are in full bloom just in time for Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
Lined with the backdrop of 4000 beautiful tulips, Arlon Bennett, a Parkinson’s Warrior himself, will sing his new song “I Got You!” produced by the Parkinsons Wellness Project at the event. This music video was selected to be shown at the World Parkinson Congress, Barcelona, 2023.
The Parkinson’s Wellness Project’s mission is to serve as a bridge between the PD community and the world at large using educational live events and technology to break the barriers of isolation and helplessness associated with the disease in order to provide connection, hope, and renewed purpose to people dealing with PD.
The blooming tulip event includes movers and shakers in the PD community coming together to educate the public about PD and the significant resources offered by PWP. Those in attendance include Supervisor of Ramapo: Michael Specht, Co- Director of PWP: Susan Lust, County Legislator: Harriet Cornell and Singer/Songwriter and founder of The Healing Project: Arlon Bennett.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system, ranking second among age-related degenerative brain diseases. It’s also the most common motor (movement-related) brain disease, affecting at least 1 percent of people over age 60 worldwide.
“PWP, established in 2019, is dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s live their best lives possible,” says PWP Co-director Susan Lust. “It offers updates on the latest research and medications, and promotes best practices in diet, exercise, and social well-being for individuals with PD. We currently serve about 1,100 families in Rockland, Bergen, Westchester and Orange Counties. The Garden of Hope with 4000 tulips in bloom is a great way to bring awareness to the community about Parkinson’s disease.”
Anyone wishing to attend the event to see the tulips in bloom and learn more about PWP should contact the Parkinsons Wellness Project for more details. Parkinsons Wellness Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes better awareness, education, and social interaction for people with Parkinson’s disease. For more information, visit www.parkinsonswellnessproject.org or call 845-300-4511
ABOUT PARKINSON’S DISEASE
First described in 1817 by English physician James Parkinson as a “shaking palsy,” Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder of the brain that results from a loss of cells that produce dopamine. Loss of this neurotransmitter dopamine causes instability of posture or balance, gait difficulty, stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or neck, general slowness of movement and tremors or trembling. Other symptoms may include depression, mental confusion, difficulty writing and speech problems. There isn’t a specific test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. A neurologist will diagnose Parkinson’s disease based on an individual’s medical history, a review of symptoms, and a neurological and physical examination. Nearly one million people in the United States live with PD and 60,000 people are diagnosed with it each year. Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, YET, but much research is being done to find a cure…Now there are many new medications and alternate therapies that can help control the symptoms, often dramatically.