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A Message of Hope - A Call for Support...

Dear Friends and Members of the Parkinson's Association of Southwest Florida,

​In April we kicked off Parkinson’s Awareness Month with our Sold-Out annual Living Well with Parkinson’s Education Symposium on April 4!
​
The community education event closed with this message of hope from Ihtsham ul Haq, MD, FAAN, University of Miami,*:  "There is a spectacularly bright future for Parkinson’s patients today and those diagnosed tomorrow!"
 
This is wonderful news to those of us at the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida (PASWFL) who work to Help Southwest Floridians Live Well with PD!
 
Currently neurologists treat symptoms. Soon, thanks to rigorous data collection, combined with better understanding of the genome we will see:

• Diagnostic improvements:  seeding assays (cerebrospinal fluid analysis - new, available today) and in final research:  skin biopsy/punch and the blood test MITO DNADAX.
• Personalized, fine-tuned treatments based upon specific biomarkers. 

For these breakthroughs, we applaud researchers, in Florida and nationwide!

Dr. Haq wrapped with a reminder – as did our other presenters Drs. Fanty, Moore, and Bure - as work continues for a cure, medication for symptomatic improvement is the first step to living well because it has a compounding benefit!  Chiefly, it provides more opportunity to exercise, the key treatment available to most across all stages.
 
How?  Among the compounding benefits of medication and exercise are: 

1. Medication allows those touched by PD to do more, including exercise;
2. Exercise results in better sleep;
3. Better sleep leads to more slow wave sleep; and
4. Slow wave sleep allows a more thorough cell cleansing – disposing of the accumulating folding, sticky proteins which cause characteristic PD symptoms. ​

Your Support Provides Hope Here in Southwest Florida...

 When you invest in the PASWFL you make our programs possible. 

• Exercise offerings are the core of our programming! At the height of season, we offered 16+ weekly sessions - in-person and via Zoom, Monday through Friday. ​
• You ensure that we continue to provide and to expand our evidence-based offerings.  Among our success already this year are more than 50 new members joining monthly, the addition of two in-person seated Yoga classes weekly, launching two new Support Groups, and more

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Your generosity paves the way for another year which enriches the quality of life and empowers people touched by Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases through exceptional programs and services.
 
Until a Parkinson’s cure is found, we at PASWFL continue to help Southwest Floridians live well because of your support!
 
With Gratitude,
 
Mary C. Schoeffel, CFRE
Executive Director

​P.S. May I count on you to act now and join me in making an impact to ensure our programming remains truly helpful?
 
*Ihtsham ul Haq MD FAAN, Professor and Division Chief of Movement Disorders
Department of Neurology, Associate Director-Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute,
Cornfeld-Hurowitz Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

While there is no charge to participate in the many sessions, classes, and supportive services that help our members live well with PD, there are significant costs to offering these programs and services​.  Please consider a generous gift during our spring drive for hope to help us continue our mission and provide the resources that are so critical to members of our community. ​

When you donate to the Parkinson's Association of SWFL this Spring your gift goes directly to helping over 7,000 people to live well with PD right here in Collier and southern Lee County. Every six minutes someone is diagnosed with PD … possibly someone you know. We work today to improve life for those with Parkinson’s. For more than 25 years, and due to your generosity, PASWFL continues to meet the needs of those with PD! Since 2018, we’ve doubled our annual offerings:
We rely on the generosity of our community to make these programs and services available for our family, friends and neighbors in Southwest Florida possible because we receive no funding from the government or national organizations.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Your gift supports services in your community

There has never been a better time to give than today.

 When you donate to the Parkinson's Association of SWFL your gift goes directly to helping friends, family and
neighbors right here in your community to live well with PD. Your generous contribution benefits the more than
​7,000 people locally in SWFL who are affected by PD. 
​We are a local, independent non-profit serving Collier and Lee Counties, not affiliated with national organizations.
​Your donation directly helps our community members live well with PD.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

The Parkinson's Association of Southwest Florida

The Parkinson's Association of SWFL is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. EIN# 59-3471412