First Annual Parkinson’s Disease Walk Tremendous Success

On Sunday, October 13th, 2002 nearly 500 supporters gathered in Fairfield, CT at the Penfield Pavilion for the first annual Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders research walk. Raising over $35,000, the walk was a tremendous success and a tribute to the dedication of the volunteers who staffed the event and supporters who came out. And due to this contribution by volunteers 95% of the donations received will be spent on research to develop techniques for identifying and diagnosing Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages through brain imaging.

Prior to the walk, Fairfield’s State Senator, Bill Finch, presented Institute founders Ken Marek, M.D. and John Seibyl, M.D. with a citation from the CT State Senate in recognition of the critical research being done by the Institute. In addition, the invaluable contributions of several individuals were recognized by Dr.’s Seibyl and Marek. Howard and Linda Zwickler were awarded “Hero” awards along with IND staffer Maggie Dann, for their tireless efforts to make this day a success. Ruth Lapides was presented with an inscribed crystal bowl in memory of the contributions made by her late husband and IND Board Member Robert Lapides. This walk was dedicated to his memory.

The donations received by the Institute that Sunday weren’t from a few big corporations but were mainly modest amounts from hundreds of people who believe in the Institute’s work. As we watched those bright orange WW hats, those hand drawn tee-shirts, even that dog in a Research Walk shirt, all moving down Fairfield Beach Road, we realized how much our work really matters to thousands of real people. Thank you all for making this day such a success.

Read all the details in the Fall 2002 edition of our newsletter Spectrum.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!